HC Deb 19 June 2000 vol 352 cc13-4W
Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, about its funding. [126868]

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations from the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, about its funding.

Mr. Colman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures Her Majesty's Government proposes to ensure that those British contractors who have been debarred by the World Bank from future funding on grounds of fraud and corruption in the procurement of goods and services are restricted in access to UK bilateral aid funds, ECGD credits and funds from other multilateral development banks. [125781]

Clare Short

We welcome the action by the World Bank to investigate cases of alleged corruption. We have asked the Bank to make available to national authorities the information on which they have taken a decision to debar firms from procurement. We understand that the Bank is in discussion with other multilateral development agencies about corruption cases. It is up to the Board of each agency to reach its own conclusions based on the evidence, but we would support a robust line against corruption within their programmes. There are no procedures to limit access to ECGD facilities by any company debarred by the World Bank from receiving funds, but ECGD are looking at how to tighten up their anti-corruption procedures.

We will consider information on the World Bank's and others' lists of debarred contractors, along with other commercial data, about any company or individual bidding for DFID work, before awarding a contract.

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