§ Ms SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to improve the quality, effectiveness and poverty focus of EC development assistance. [89768]
§ Clare ShortThere can be no doubt that the EC's development assistance programmes are not sufficiently poverty focused and are often ineffective. This is why we published a strategy paper at the end of last year containing 18 detailed proposals for strengthening our collaboration with the EC to improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of its programmes. We are pursuing implementation of this strategy vigorously, and I shall be making a speech in Brussels at the end of July setting out a reform agenda to strengthen the EC's role as we enter the new millennium.
The share of EC official development assistance going to the poorest countries has fallen from 75 per cent. in 1987 to 50 per cent. in 1997. The UK has proposed that for the proportion of EC official development assistance going to low-income countries should increase each year from 2000 to 2006, reaching 70 per cent. by 2006.
We will seek to ensure that poverty elimination is at the heart of the successor to the current Lomé Convention which provides the framework for the EU's aid, trade and political relations with 71 Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
We will also seek to work with other member states and the Commission to implement the Council Conclusions on the Evaluation of the EC's development assistance programmes. These Conclusions were adopted at the Development Council on 21 May and provide a good basis to take the steps necessary to improve the EC's effectiveness.