§ 12 Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from non-governmental organisations concerning the future of the EU aid programme.[34638]
§ Clare ShortI receive regular representations from NGOs on all subjects. In January I spoke at an NGO forum on the re-negotiation of the Lome Convention. In April I will attend a similar forum in Brussels with NGOs from throughout the EU. The major objective of our Presidency in the development area is to ensure that the future Lome Convention and EC development efforts more effectively support this international poverty eradication strategy. Most NGOs strongly support this objective.