§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in setting up the annual policy forum proposed in the Government's White Paper on International Development. [45990]
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§ Clare ShortThe National Development Policy Forum will take place in Birmingham on 9 November. This will be preceded by a series of regional forums in ten locations around the UK. The dates and locations are as follows:
Date Location Monday 7 September Norwich Wednesday 9 September Birmingham Monday 14 September Bristol Wednesday 16 September Portsmouth Monday 21 September York Thursday 24 September Cardiff Monday 5 October Manchester Wednesday 7 October Edinburgh Tuesday 13 October Belfast Friday 16 October London The Forum is one of a number of ways in which we are seeking to share experience and strengthen analysis of development issues across different sectors of society, and to broaden public awareness. This will be an annual process and full reports of the outcome will be available.
Our current estimate of the cost is between £200,000 and £300,000.