Voluntary Service Overseas

EDM number 585 in 2002-03, proposed by Tony Colman on 28/01/2003.

That this House recognises Voluntary Service Overseas' excellent contribution to tackling global poverty; notes with concern that since 11th September the number of volunteers recruited by VSO from the UK has dropped by 40 per cent.; further recognises that the world's poorest stand to lose most as security fears escalate and attention is diverted from the suffering of millions in the developing world; notes that alongside the war on terror we must also win the war on poverty and commends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for International Development for the efforts to tackle global poverty; further notes that over 90 per cent. of VSO volunteers feel as safe or safer than they do in the UK; and calls upon the Government to support VSO in its efforts to recruit skilled professionals to work as volunteers and help win the war on poverty.

This motion has been signed by a total of 70 MPs.