§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to make the World bank more accountable.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe World bank is accountable to the 172 countries which are shareholders and which elect or appoint executive directors who form its board. The board is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the bank, including specific policies and lending proposals. Directors recently gave broad endorsement to the conclusions and recommendations of the report by an internal task force on portfolio management, which proposed changes designed to improve effective implementation of projects financed by the bank and internal accountability of staff. There will be further discussions in the board on various aspects of the bank's management practices; and our director will continue to play an active role in getting the recommendations put into effect.