Clause 1 - Annual reports: general
International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill
9:00 am
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development; Harrow West, Labour)
I join others who have welcomed the chance to serve again under your chairmanship, Mr. Hood, as I do the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) in paying tribute to the way in which my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr. Clarke) has conducted his efforts to take on board the wishes of the House on Second Reading. We have had extensive discussions in which he pressed forcefully and robustly the various points to strengthen the Bill that were made by many hon. Members on Second Reading. I hope that the amendments that have been tabled in my name and that of my right hon. Friend will be recognised as a way in which to strengthen the Bill.
The Government support the amendments tabled by my right hon. Friend. By way of clarification, I wish to say that the breakdown of bilateral aid by region that was sought originally under subsection (2)(a) will now be covered under paragraph 2(1)(a) of new schedule 1, should the Committee accept it. We will report on the distribution of aid not only to Africa and Asia, but to Europe, the Americas and the Pacific. Similarly, the other requirements that my right hon. Friend listed originally under clause 1 will be covered elsewhere in the new schedule if the Committee is so minded to accept it.
The hon. Member for Boston and Skegness asked first about possible debates of the annual report. He will know that I cannot give him a guarantee in Committee that it will be debated annually. However, I shall draw his remarks to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, who will have read what hon. Members said about that on Second Reading. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have been shy about debating international development during our ministerial discussions.