§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to influence the deployment of funds provided by the United Kingdom to(a) the European bank for reconstruction and development, (b) the European Union, (c) the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and (d) the World bank; and what further steps are planned to increase the accountability of those organisations to the United Kingdom Government.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFor the European bank for reconstruction and development, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World bank, the United Kingdom participates actively in meetings where overall policy priorities and work programmes are discussed. For the European Union we play a full part in discussion of development policy issues in the Council of the Union, and in discussion of project proposals in European Commission management committees. We also maintain regular contact with the senior management of all these institutions. We will continue to work through these mechanisms to strengthen their efficiency and accountability.