§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she plans to publish the Government's new White Paper on Globalisation and Development; and if she will make a statement. [142476]
§ Clare ShortThe White Paper has been published today. It is entitled "Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation work for the Poor".
This White Paper stands alongside our first White Paper published in 1997. It reaffirms our commitment to the elimination of poverty and the achievement of the International Development Targets.
We are living at a time of profound historical change. One in five of the world's population—two thirds of them women—live in abject poverty, at a time of growing material plenty. If the poorest countries can be drawn into the global economy, and get increasing access to modern knowledge and technology, we could move forward to a period of massive progress and the removal of abject poverty from the human condition. But if this is not done, we will see growing poverty, marginalisation, conflict and environmental degradation.
We need to work collectively to tackle the problems of conflict and corruption, boost investment in education and health, spread the benefits of technology and research, strengthen the international financial system, reduce barriers to trade, tackle environmental problems and make development assistance more effective.
This White Paper sets out the Government's policies in these areas. It reflects our commitment to work across all parts of Government in order to work with other governments and international institutions to significantly reduce poverty. It provides an agenda for managing globalisation in a way that will help to ensure that the new wealth, technology and knowledge being generated brings benefits to the world's poor.