United Kingdom, International Monetary Fund, World Bank And International Aid;programmes

EDM number 957 in 1994-95, proposed by Frank Cook on 04/04/1995.

That this House notes that on average 13 per cent. of the United Kingdom's budget goes to the World Bank and the IMF, that a quarter of this ú60m in 1993-94 is spent generally on structural adjustment programmes and that this is equivalent to ú10 per year per United Kingdom taxpayer, that such a commitment should be monitored properly, that the United Kingdom is represented at the World Bank by a civil servant whose voting record is shrouded in secrecy and who does not report to parliament, and that IMF documentation is routinely withheld under the guise of 'confidential' even from honourable Members; and expresses the view that Her Majesty's Government should receive an annual report on the performance of the United Kingdom role at the IMF and the World Bank, that this detailed report should be published and subject to open debate in the House, that a Select Committee of this House should be empowered to monitor the efficacy of the United Kingdom's efforts at the IMF and the World Bank and to question the Executive Director responsible, and that following all major meetings of the two international monetary bodies, a statement should be made to the House subject to scrutiny and questioning by honourable Members.

This motion has been signed by a total of 38 MPs.