International Development Select Committee Press Notice No. 33 of Session 1997-98 dated 20 June 1998

Seminar for Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees with Responsibility for International Development

12 June 1998

The Chairman of the International Development Committee, Mr Bowen Wells MP, hosted the first Seminar for Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees with Responsibility for International Development in London on 12 June.

The initiative was enthusiastically welcomed by all who attended, not only the other Chairmen, but also Commissioner Professor Pinheiro and Mr Philip Lowe, Director General of DGVIII, the development department of the European Commission, and by Mr George Foulkes MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.

The Seminar was attended by Chairmen from 11 EU member state parliamentary committees and Mr Michel Rocard, Chairman of the European Parliament Development and Cooperation Committee, and discussions were lively and interesting, rectifying a long-standing lack of communication between EU member states at a parliamentary level.

The morning session focussed on the EU aid programme, and began with an address by Commissioner Professor Pinheiro and Mr Philip Lowe. Amongst the issues discussed was the Committee's recent Report on the Renegotiation of the Lomé Convention (Session 1997-98, HC365), along with other important aspects of the EU development programme.

The afternoon session concentrated on the co-ordination of bilateral aid efforts. The session began with an address from Mr George Foulkes MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development. The Chairmen discussed the importance of coordination of aid efforts between donors, and the priorities of bilateral aid programmes.

The Chairmen agreed to meet once under each EU presidency. It is hoped that the next meeting will take place in Vienna at a date to be agreed.

Enquiries to Janet Hughes, 0171 219 0851

Note for Editors

The membership of the Committee is as follows: Mr Bowen Wells (Chairman) (Conservative, Hertford and Stortford), Mr Dennis Canavan (Labour, Falkirk West), Ann Clwyd (Labour, Cynon Valley), Ms Barbara Follett (Labour, Stevenage), Mr Bernie Grant (Labour, Tottenham), Mr Piara S. Khabra (Labour, Ealing, Southall), Ms Oona King (Labour, Bethnal Green and Bow), Mrs Tess Kingham (Labour, Gloucester), Mr Andrew Robathan (Conservative, Blaby), Mr Andrew Rowe (Conservative, Faversham and Kent Mid), Dr Jenny Tonge (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park).

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