§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current involvement of the World Bank with Turkey; and how, in the light of its 1991 report The Challenge of Development and its 1997 framework for post-conflict reconstruction, it is approaching the following issues in Turkey: (a) demobilisation of conventional forces; (b) police training; (c) the needs of internally displaced people; (d) poverty reduction; and (e) the control of inflation. [HL3809]
§ Baroness AmosWe understand from the World Bank that its support to Turkey is focused on key structural and social reforms, in line with the bank's overall mission to reduce poverty and improve living standards. In conjunction with the IMF, the bank is supporting the Government of Turkey in implementing a three-year disinflation which aims to bring inflation below 10 per cent by the end of 2002 and restore economic growth. The World Bank is not involved in the demobilisation of conventional forces or in police training. It is not directly involved in meeting the needs of internally displaced people in Turkey. The bank provided substantial support to help Turkey deal with the aftermath of the Marmara earthquake. DfID does not have a bilateral programme in Turkey.