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International Development Bill – keeping up the pressure to make poverty history

Posted by Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, at 11:09, Tue 24 January 2006:

Some good news from Friday's Parliamentary business – the International Development Private Members Bill – which I strongly support – got its Second Reading in the Commons. This means the principles of the Bill were approved, and it now goes to Committee for detailed consideration.

Normally MPs spend Fridays in their constituency, but I travelled down early to London especially to speak in support of the Bill before getting back to Oxford in time for my usual advice surgery in Blackbird Leys.

The International Development Bill has been introduced by my fellow Labour MP Tom Clarke and enjoys support in all parties.

The point of the Bill is to maintain the momentum of the Labour government's pressure on other rich countries to tackle world poverty and the Make Poverty History Campaign last year.

It is often difficult to get enough MPs in London to vote for Private Members Bills on a Friday, but this Bill passed its Second Reading debate with flying colours.

It's particularly important because it will:

• ensure Parliament stays focussed on the needs of the poorest

• make the government more accountable to Parliament and the public

• make Britain's aid to developing countries even more effective;

• help tackle the problem of aid being wasted by corrupt governments

The Bill aims to keep up the pressure to achieve the Millennium Development Goals – a set of targets for cutting poverty, tackling HIV/AIDS and improving health, education, the environment and women’s rights in the developing world.

It will make the government report annually on how much support Britain gives to developing countries and how effective it is in achieving its goals.

It's a plus for the International Development Bill that it's backed by Oxfam - who have moved their headquarters to Oxford East - as well as other bodies campaigning to tackle world poverty. There is a growing consensus and, judging by my postbag, enormous demand from people in Oxford East for continued progress on international development because it’s the right thing to do.