§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to assist the development of the economy of Nepal; and if she will make a statement. [129553]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe objectives of the UK's development programme to Nepal are set out in the Country Strategy Paper, published in November 1998 (a copy of which I am placing in the House of Commons Library). More recently we have been working with other Donors to help the Government implement its Reform Programme which was announced at the Development Forum meeting at Paris in April. This focuses on key areas such as macroeconomic stability and fiscal administration, creating an enabling environment for private sector development, financial sector reform, and better governance (including decentralisation, anti-corruption measures, and civil service reform).