§ 12. James PurnellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's efforts to relieve poverty in Bangladesh. [92215]
§ Clare ShortMy Department finances a large programme in Bangladesh aimed at poverty reduction. We support health and education programmes with both Government and NGOs. We are working with a range of Government Departments to improve their capacity to plan and implement poverty programmes including improving the planning and management of public finances. We finance direct poverty programmes with NGO's and are strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to increase the responsiveness of Government to poor people's needs. We are preparing a new Country Assistance Plan which will be published in April.