International development
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international development. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 27.04.2012 | Sudan and South Sudan: All-out war? |
| On 9 July 2011, South Sudan formally seceded from Sudan. But many issues remain unresolved and there has been an upsurge in conflict since then in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan - known as the 'Three Areas'. This note surveys the many challenges still facing the 'two Sudans'. | |
| 28.02.2012 | Does Somali piracy have any 'developmental effects'? |
| There has been growing debate about where the spoils of Somali piracy have been going. How far are they helping to support the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab? Is some of the money going into the pockets of local politicians and businessmen with links to the pirates? Could a surprisingly large portion of the spoils be percolating through to ordinary Somalis? This note briefly surveys recent debates on the last two of these questions. | |
| 28.02.2012 | Somalia: recent political, security and humanitarian developments |
| This note surveys the military set-backs experienced by al-Shabaab since the beginning of 2011, the motives behind the current Kenyan incursion into southern Somalia, recent international efforts to promote a viable political process on the ground and the continuing food crisis in the country. | |
| 05.12.2011 | Bangladesh: an update |
| This note surveys recent political and economic developments in Bangladesh, where Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League have dominated the political scene since the December 2008 elections but may face a growing challenge as the next electoral cycle begins in earnest during 2012. Economically, there has been reasonably high growth in recent years thanks to expanding exports and strong progress on key MDGs. | |
| 23.11.2011 | Kenya since the 2007/08 crisis |
| This note reviews major political developments since the 2007/08 crisis. Many challenges and uncertainties remain to be overcome - not least, the possibility that senior political figures in government may be indicted by the International Criminal Court - before there can be genuine confidence that the 2012 elections will not lead to renewed violence and instability. Kenya is also struggling to cope with a food crisis that has heavily affected the north, east and parts of the centre of the country. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 21.01.2011 | UK Defence and Security Policy: A New Approach? |
| Both the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review were published in October 2010, five months after the Government took office. This paper examines the main priorities and recommendations set out in each of those documents | |
| 11.03.2010 | Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill: Committee Stage Report |
| This is a report on the Committee Stage of the Bill. It complements Research Paper 10/17, prepared for the Commons Second Reading of the Bill. The Bill seeks to limit the amount that can be recovered by any commercial creditor of those countries designated as having unsustainable external debts. It would restrict the activities of so-called 'vulture funds', which buy developing countries' sovereign debt at discounted prices, then seek to recover its value in full through the courts. It would limit successful claims to an internationally agreed level and apply equally to all commercial creditors. At Committee Stage, a new 'sunset clause' was added. The proposed legislation would now expire after one year unless renewed for a further year or made permanent by order. | |
| 25.02.2010 | Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill [Bill 17 of 2009-10] |
| The Bill seeks to limit the amount that can be recovered by any commercial creditor of those countries designated as having unsustainable external debts. The legislation would restrict the activities of so-called 'vulture funds', which buy developing countries' sovereign debt at discounted prices, then seek to recover its value in full through the courts. It would limit successful claims to an internationally agreed level and apply equally to all commercial creditors. It would cover the 40 countries in the IMF/World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Debts incurred after the Bill's entry into force would be excluded. | |
| 13.09.2007 | Pakistan's political and security challenges |
| 04.06.2007 | Gleneagles G8 commitments on debt relief and aid - two years on |
| Gleneagles G8 commitments on debt relief and aid - two years on. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/51. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 20.03.2012 | Economic impact and effectiveness of development aid. |
| Economic Affairs Select Committee (HL) report [Lords] | |
| 14.09.2011 | The impact of UK overseas aid on environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation.... |
| Government response. Environmental Audit Select Committee; Department for International Development report [Commons] | |
| 12.07.2011 | Humanitarian response to the Pakistan floods.International |
| Government response. International Development Select Committee; Department for International Development report [Commons] | |
| 22.06.2011 | The impact of UK overseas aid on environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation.... |
| Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 10.05.2011 | Department for International Development annual report and resource accounts 2009-10. |
| Government response. International Development Select Committee; Department for International Development report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 08.11.2011 | ETHICAL CONSUMER AND USE OF TAX HAVENS BY COMPANIES OPERATING PUBLIC SERVICES |
| That this House congratulatesEthical Consumer for its work exposing the poor ethical record of the companies being awarded contracts to run our public services; is deeply concerned ... | |
| 31.10.2011 | PROPOSED HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL |
| That this House notes the service done by civilian and military humanitarian workers deployed by the Government in humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the globe and the ... | |
| 10.10.2011 | GLOBAL DEBT WEEK 8 TO 16 OCTOBER 2011 |
| That this House supports the aims of Global Debt Week from 8 to 16 October 2011 which highlights the need for an end to unfair debt; recognises the work of Jubilee Debt Campaign and ... | |
| 13.06.2011 | TEA TIME FOR CHANGE LOBBY |
| That this House applauds the Tea Time for Change mass lobby for international development held on 9 June 2011; congratulates ActionAid, the Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD), ... | |
| 31.03.2011 | INDIA - EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON AFFORDABLE MEDICINES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD |
| That this House notes that the Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between India and the EU is nearing finalisation; further notes that the EU is pushing for the inclusion ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 03.02.2012 | Question for Short Debate on 8 February: Blockade of Gaza |
| This Library Note provides an overview of the blockade of Gaza by the Government of Israel, including its history, attempts to bypass the blockade and recent developments. It then examines the impact of the blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and finally the response of the British Government. | |
| 28.11.2011 | Debate on 1 December: International Development Policy and the Situation of Dalits |
| This Library Note provides an overview of the situation of Dalits in South Asia and looks at the issue of caste-based discrimination in India. It also examines the Government's international development policy for India, currently the largest recipient of UK development aid. |
POST Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 16.02.2012 | Resilience to Natural Hazards in Developing Nations |
| In the last 10 years, over 500,000 people have lost their lives and around 1.5 billion people have been adversely affected due to rapid-onset natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunami, floods and tropical storms. This briefing discusses the potential for science and technology to enhance resilience to such hazards in developing nations. | |
| 01.06.2008 | International migration of scientists and engineers, June 2008 |
| International migration of scientists and engineers, June 2008. POSTnote 08/309. | |
| 01.04.2008 | Research ethics in developing countries, April 2008 |
| Research ethics in developing countries, April 2008. POSTnote 08/304. | |
| 01.05.2007 | Tackling malaria in developing countries, May 2007 |
| Tackling malaria in developing countries, May 2007. POSTnote 07/284. | |
| 01.12.2006 | Food security in developing countries, December 2006. |
| Food security in developing countries, December 2006. POSTnote 06/274. | |
| 01.10.2006 | Adapting to climate change in developing countries,October 2006 |
| Adapting to climate change in developing countries, October 2006. POSTnote 06/269. |
