§ 7. Mr. David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of value for money in the EU aid budget. [67509]
§ 15. Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of the EU development aid programme. [67521]
§ Clare ShortWe have inherited from the previous administration a commitment that 30 per cent. of my budget is channelled through the EC and a situation where EC aid spending is skewed against the poorest countries and is often of poor quality. In December we published our strategy to improve EC performance.
We are actively seeking support for this strategy in the Commission, the European Parliament and among Member States. I welcome the report of the Development Select Committee supporting the Government's strategy.