What the parties are saying

"Our vision for international development, as in other areas of policy, is to achieve progressive aims through Conservative means. We believe we can bring to the fight against global poverty techniques that will make more of a difference to more people: a focus on aid effectiveness and value for money; an understanding of the importance of wealth creation and the means to foster it; a recognition that security is the precondition for sustainable development and hard-headed proposals to improve conflict resolution.

If elected, a new Conservative Government will be fully committed to achieving, by 2013, the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of national income as aid.  Our top priority will be to ensure that every penny of this money is spent well.  Our Green Paper on international development, One World Conservatism (available online at www.conservatives.com/oneworld) sets out how we will do this.  For example, we will:

• Ensure the impartial and objective analysis of the effectiveness of British aid through an Independent Aid Watchdog

• Strengthen public support for development by giving taxpayers a greater say over where and how aid is spent, supporting British NGOs who currently miss out on Government funding, and building links between individuals and communities in Britain and developing countries

• Focus British aid more tightly, concentrating on the poorest countries so we can achieve more where the need is greatest

• As well as making British aid more accountable to people in the UK, make it more responsive and accountable to people in poor countries

• Champion efforts to help developing countries respond to climate change"
   

“2010 is not just an important year for politics in the UK; it is an important milestone for the world’s efforts to tackle global poverty. 10 years on from the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the international community will meet this autumn to review progress towards those goals. The world leaders gathered at the United Nations will find this progress wanting.

Here in the UK, the Liberal Democrats have long been at the forefront of the development debate and were the first party to call for the adoption of the UN 0.7% target on aid spending. We remain committed to meet that target by 2013 and support legislation to guarantee this. And we are the only party to guarantee that money to help developing countries deal with climate change will be above and beyond this existing aid pledge.

But while the UK is on track, our G8 counterparts are not. Recent OECD figures show that Japan, Germany, France and Italy have fallen far short of the commitments to increase aid levels made at the 2005 Gleneagles summit. Liberal Democrats have proposed a ‘Gleneagles Recovery Plan’ and a ‘Route 0.7’ which will hold the G8 countries to their dues and set a timetable for their delivery. Any new British government must hold its partners to these demands.

Beyond aid levels, we want to see real progress on the MDGs that have seen little thus far - those on reducing infant and maternal mortality. That will involve a new focus on issues such as dehydration and renewed action on malaria (two of the biggest killers of children). One crucial element in tackling these issues must be the priority at the MDG review conference this autumn: the empowerment of women.

Liberal Democrats have always been champions of equality. Improving the education and empowerment of women in developing countries not only improves their life chances, but those of their children. At the very least, the summit must make progress on the new UN Agency for Women, including agreement on a credible and capable female director and the resources needed to give women a voice both in country and within the UN system.”

“I am proud that it was Labour who established a dedicated Department for International Development in 1997. Since then we have been recognised as a world leader in our aid effectiveness. Our commitment to development – both as a moral cause and because it is in our common interest will continue.

We have trebled our aid since 1997, are on track to meet our 0.7% aid promise from 2013, and are now also committed to enshrining this in law. (NB You can back the 0.7% law at www.globalpovertypromise.com) Stark contrast with how the Tories halved the aid budget – and how they refuse to commit to introduce a law.

Our priorities over the next five years will continue to be ensuring that our aid makes a difference globally: ensuring more children go to school; more mothers are able to access free public health care; fewer people die from killer diseases like HIV/Aids. And we will also show new resolve and focus in tackling conflict and insecurity, climate change and its impacts, and reforming international institutions.

Labour will also remain committed to promoting gender equality and women’s rights, such as our work which has increased the enrolment of girls into school in Nigeria – and supported the provision of microfinance and financial services to over 650,000 women in Afghanistan, Tanzania and Pakistan.

I know that VSO supporters have campaigned strongly on the issue of a new UN women’s agency. The Labour government has been one of its strongest advocates, and we will continue to provide support as it is established, including at least doubling our core funding. We will also continue to take significant steps towards ending violence against women.

Despite the warm words – there is a world of difference between the major parties on international development – whether it is on 0.7% or how our aid is used. Big choices - which I hope VSO supporters will take note of when casting their vote.”