HC Deb 08 December 1999 vol 340 c577W
12. Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the World Bank's world development report 1999–2000, "Entering the 21st Century"; and if she will make a statement. [100359]

Clare Short

This year's World Development Report deals with two great trends—globalisation and localisation. I welcome its message that we need new rules and institutional responses. The poor benefit from rule-based systems: otherwise they can be trampled on and bullied by the most powerful. The WTO for example provides an opportunity to developing countries to achieve a fairer trading system. And international agreement is needed to tackle global environmental problems.

The 1999 Report covers many issues. I am particularly looking forward to next year's Report on Poverty. I have every hope it will be pathbreaking.

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