§ 39. Mr. EnrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are currently in progress between the Council of Ministers and the European Commission on the reorganisation of the Commission's services for dealing with aid matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe reorganisation of the Commission's services dealing with aid matters is an internal matter for the European Commission.
§ Mr. EnrightThe Minister will, nevertheless, be aware that the renovation of buildings and the integration of services have had an effect on the morale of some staff working for the Commission. It is crucial that the Council of Ministers, as well as Parliament, monitors what is happening to make sure that it is effective and, above all, integrated properly. Will he give us an assurance that that will happen?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am aware of what the hon. Gentleman is speaking about and I know that he speaks with expertise, having worked for the European Community in those sectors. I appreciate that directorates general I and VIII are under the same Commissioner's responsibility and I agree that it is appropriate that the Council of Ministers, Members of this Parliament and other national Parliaments and Members of the European Parliament should monitor the acts of the European Commission in its expenditure.
Mr. Robert HughesIs the Minister aware that the Commission's aid policy must be governed by foreign policy? Is he also aware of the desperate need for humanitarian aid in Angola and that the delivery of such aid has been frustrated by the incapacity and unwillingness of Mr. Savimbi of UNITA to accept the Bicesse accords and the writ of the United Nations?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's point. Sometimes it is impossible to deliver aid to areas in great humanitarian need, because of the political problems and the failure of political leaders, who could influence the situation, to take appropriate action.
§ Mr. LidingtonWill my hon. Friend assure the House that Her Majesty's Government will continue to criticise constructively the Commission's aid programme, to make sure that both donor and recipient countries get the best possible value for every pound or ecu that is spent?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydYes. During the British presidency, important work was undertaken on development co-operation in the European Community. In particular, the Development Council adopted a declaration on aspects of development co-operation policy to the year 2000 and established work programmes to examine our existing policy and to improve the effectiveness of European Community expenditure money through better co-ordination between nation states and the Commission.
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe Minister should be more forthright. Is not he aware that there is widespread criticism of the policy of the existing Development Commissioner, who is losing the confidence of Europe over the distribution of aid? Should not the Minister be making it clear, as more and more of our aid is being 725 distributed through Europe, that we expect the same quality of distribution of aid by the EC as we would expect from our own Departments?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt would not be right for me to endorse the hon. Gentleman's remarks in public, but we take every opportunity to press the European Community on where we feel that improvements in policy could be made. For example, we have expressed our concern about the European Community humanitarian office and we have debated the matter. We are concerned that it has a narrow definition of emergency relief and we are concerned about several aspects of its implementation.