§ 13. Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that the objective of sustainability is included in UK aid programmes. [62755]
§ Clare ShortSustainable development is crucial to the elimination of poverty and is central to the Government's policy on international development. My Department applies rigorous procedures to ensure that the projects and programmes we support have clear sustainable outcomes which benefit poor people.
We seek to work in partnership with recipient countries committed to pro-poor policies and explore with them how assistance will be economically and financially sustainable in the long term. This includes promoting effective planning of government expenditure and revenue, reduction of debt to sustainable levels and sustainable use of environmental resources.