§ 12. Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the impact of multinational companies on developing countries. [95591]
§ Clare ShortThe private sector and multinational companies are key to achieving the economic growth necessary to meet the international poverty reduction targets.
We have established a Business Partnership Unit to strengthen our links with the private sector. We have also established a resource centre to help business to access information, expertise and contacts to help them implement socially responsible business and examine and monitor their impact in poor countries. We have provided funding and support to the Ethical Trading Initiative which brings together business, trade unions and non-governmental organisations to examine supply chains in poorer countries against an agreed code of conduct, including key commitments on labour standards.