HC Deb 23 July 1997 vol 298 cc940-2
7. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that overseas aid from her Department is used to promote democracy in the third world. [8362]

Clare Short

As part of our human rights approach to development and the elimination of poverty—we must address people's material needs and their right to dignity and their own voice—we will give special attention to the rights of poor and disadvantaged people and the need to ensure that their voice is heard in Government.

Helen Jackson

Does my right hon. Friend acknowledge that in many third-world countries there is very little, if any, multi-party democracy as we know it here? Will she give priority within her funding programmes to those projects, often small community projects, which provide people with the potential and the power to have an input into the internal politics of their country?

Clare Short

There are far more multi-party democracies around the world now than there were 20 years ago. There has been enormous progress, especially in Africa, and we want to strengthen and deepen those democratic movements. We all share the objective of bolstering democratic forces; the question is how to do that most effectively. Given that our work focuses on the needs of the poorest, working with them to ensure that their voice is heard in the political system will be the focus of our efforts.

Mr. Cash

Will the Minister give an indication of the Government's policy regarding Kenya? As chairman of the all-party group on east Africa, I have a special interest in the subject. Has her Department considered withdrawing aid from Kenya in the light of the atrocities that have recently occurred there?

Clare Short

We are very worried indeed by the situation in Kenya. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), has been out to Kenya and had talks with the Government there about the nature of Britain's worries. We are monitoring the situation closely and have been reviewing our aid contributions.

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern: it would be a tragedy if Kenya were to become more repressive and cut off from the rest of the world. However, we cannot tolerate that sort of behaviour and continue to contribute the level of aid donations that Britain has historically given to Kenya.

Mr. Donald Anderson

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the welcome new focus on poverty eradication does not imply a downgrading of conditionality, especially in the Commonwealth under the Harare declaration?

Clare Short

I believe that the idea of signing up, absolutely clear-mindedly, to the international poverty eradication targets actually refines the idea of conditionality, because we can then look for partner Governments who share those targets. We can then work in partnership with those donor countries and the Government of the developing country to eradicate poverty. That is the way we want to work. Conditionality becomes partnership, but it is focused entirely on successful poverty eradication. It is a two-way relationship, not just conditions imposed by us. It is a partnership based on a clear commitment by both sides to work firmly and clear-mindedly for poverty eradication.