§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of his Department's progress towards achieving more openness in the operations of the international financial institutions; and if he will make a statement. [5399]
§ Ruth KellyThe Government believe that greater openness in the operations of the international financial institutions can play a key part in improving effectiveness in all aspects of their business, in increasing accountability to members, and in contributing to a greater public understanding of their role of the world economy. Recent positive steps have included the creation of an independent evaluation office at the IMF.
Two publications in particular detail the Government's current policy towards openness and transparency. These are the Treasury's annual report to Parliament "The UK and the IMF 1999–2000" (available online at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pdf/2001/inf-2201.pdf), and the Government White Paper on International Development "Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor" (available online at www.globalisation.gov.uk). In addition, the G7 Finance Ministers agreed a report on progress in the reform of the international institutions and the multilateral development banks at their meeting in Rome on 7 July (available online at www.g7-2001.org/en/roma/call_frame_rapporto-1.htm).