Clause 5 - Multilateral development assistance and Millennium Development Goals 1 to 7
International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill
9:45 am
Pete Wishart (Chief Whip; Perth and North Perthshire, Scottish National Party)
Having listened to the right hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, I am satisfied that there will be clarity. He has given assurances about the tied aid that the UK Government give bilaterally and multilaterally. However, can he assure me that we will have clarity on aid that is given by the World Bank and which is tied to economic policy? I am thinking particularly of Mali, where the railroad was privatised at great expense and at a great cost to jobs and the country’s economic performance. Can we ensure that any reporting makes clear the economic policy conditions to which UK assistance might have been indirectly tied? I am thinking primarily of institutions such as the World Bank. Can we have assurances that any reporting will provide clarity and show whether there are economic ties to DFID’s contributions to the World Bank and other multilateral agencies?