Northampton’s voice was heard in drawing up the UK’s policies for ending the scandal of international poverty. Following a local meeting earlier this year, Sally submitted our views to the Minister for International Development so that they could be included in the White Paper, a document setting out the Government’s plans for the future. Since then the paper ‘making Governance Work for the Poor’ has taken up some of Northampton’s points. As suggested by you there has been:

• A focus on fighting corruption
  
• A better balance between supporting developing country government and supporting charities.
  
• A planned increase in government aid from the current 0.47% to 0.7% of national income by 2013.

This money will target developing countries’ essential services such as education and water and sanitation systems.

Work to make international trade fairer, by for example cutting charges on goods brought into Europe from Africa.

These commitments are underpinned by a programme to tackle corruption in developing countries. Aid will be tracked to ensure it is used for the intended purpose and a new Transparency Fund will be used to try and drive out a culture of corruption where it exists.

Sally has written to Hilary Benn MP, Minister for Development, congratulating him on the Paper but asking for further information on his plans to support AIDS orphans and disabled children. To find out more about the white paper go to the Department for International Development.