§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department assesses which developing countries are using their resources most effectively to tackle poverty; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe relevant criteria are whether there is economic growth in which poor people are sharing and which is creating income and livelihoods for them; whether policies and institutions are conducive to private sector and individual development and to employment and self-employment for the poor. Recipient Government priorities, as demonstrated by the pattern and effectiveness of public expenditure, are also important. Expenditure on basic social and economic services should enable sustainable progress to be made in providing a wide spread of the population with access to basic schooling, health and family planning services, safe water and access roads.