§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has made to the World Bank Group towards enhancing the focus and effectiveness with which it pursues the objectives of poverty reduction and sustainable development; and what have been the results. [39964]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development have discussed the importance of the international development targets endorsed by all members of the United Nations on a number of occasions. We are very pleased that the Bank has adopted these targets as part of its Strategic Compact, and will be using them to provide milestones against which progress towards poverty elimination can be measured. We are also encouraging the Bank to improve the quality of the poverty assessments included in its Country Assistance Strategies, working with partner countries to develop effective poverty reduction strategies.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund about their impact on poverty reduction, and the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations; and what has been the result. [39962]
§ Mr. FoulkesAt the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington earlier this month, my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for International Development made a joint statement to the Development Committee, in which they encouraged the multilateral development banks to improve co-ordination and collaboration in their actions to increase their effectiveness in reducing levels of poverty.
Additionally, they met the Managing Director of the IMF, Michel Camdessus and the President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, to discuss ways in which programmes under the IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) can take more account of
92W
Racial incidents in the Metropolitan Police District Division Residential population (1991 census) 1997/98 1997/98 per 1,000 pop 1996/971 1996/97 per 1,000 pop 1995/96 1995/96 per 1,000 pop 1994/95 1994/95 per 1,000 pop 1993/94 1993/94 per 1,000 pop Belgravia 42,178 36 0.85 — — 12 0.28 3 0.07 2 0.05 Brompton 75,460 20 0.27 — — 0 0.00 8 0.11 4 0.05 Charing Cross 4,780 15 3.14 — — 0 0.00 7 1.46 0 .00 Fulham 63,254 36 0.57 — — 36 0.57 37 0.58 41 0.65 Hammersmith 85,684 68 0.79 — — 12 0.14 27 0.32 31 0.36 Marylebone 47,286 32 0.68 — — 35 0.74 14 0.30 3 0.06 Notting Hill 48,778 45 0.92 — — 8 0.16 13 0.27 14 0.29 Paddington 79,525 39 0.49 — — 1 0.01 39 0.49 26 0.33 West End Central 4,034 7 1.74 — — 3 0.74 8 1.98 0 0.00 Total: I Area 450,979 298 0.66 108 0.24 107 0.24 156 0.35 121 0.27 Barnet & Hertsmere 278,740 40 0.14 — — 23 0.08 41 0.15 29 0.10 Colindale 98,362 102 1.04 — — 83 0.84 127 1.29 148 1.50 Ealing 148,878 46 0.31 — — 45 0.30 43 0.29 52 0.35 Hampstead 79,036 24 0.30 — — 24 0.30 37 0.47 54 0.68 Harrow 198,311 148 0.75 — — 128 0.65 113 0.57 128 0.65 Holborn 21,102 45 2.13 — — 55 2.61 81 3.84 37 1.75 Holloway 84,722 72 0.85 — — 29 0.34 65 0.77 49 0.58 Hornsey 101,299 58 0.57 — — 44 0.43 34 0.34 35 0.35 Islington 81,092 142 1.75 — — 197 2.43 215 2.65 84 1.04 social issues and the effect of adjustment programmes on the poorest. To assist the IMF develop its skills base in these areas, DIFD has offered technical expertise in social development and is encouraging a closer working relationship with the World Bank, which is best placed to offer advice on poverty reduction.