Andrew Stunell on International Aid and Foreign Policy...

International Aid and Development have been long-standing interests of mine, stretching right back to my youth. I worked on overseas aid projects earlier in my career, and they were the reason that I got into politics in the first place. I was thus delighted when Nick Clegg asked me to serve as the Lib Dem representative on the International Development Committee.

The Committee's task is to monitor the work of the International Development Department, and we can examine not only how the money was spent, but the policies that are in place. Plans can often be well-intentioned, but do they work? Are they up to date - taking account of the severe impact of climate change for instance, or the economic impact of the world-wide recession on some of the poorest people on the planet?

It's an exciting prospect to now be taking an active role in investigating what we can do to tackle problems throughout the developing world, and to make sure the money Britain spends is well used.

As part of my work on the IDC I am also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Arms Export Control ("CAEC"). You can see the most recent report of CAEC here:

Committee on Arms Export Control Reports.

Our country's foreign policies have often been a real mess in the past, and not at all ethical. Arms exports are a case in point, with some high profile international bribery and corruption cases now on the front pages. I'm looking forward to playing some part in putting that right, and tackling injustice both at home and abroad through my work on both these committees.

You can read more about what both I and the Committee have been up to, as well as all of the Select Committees publications at the following weblink:

International Development Select Committee.

Questions I have asked on International Development Issues and Foreign Policy can be accessed below:

International Development.

Foreign Policy.

The Gurkhas

In April 2009, I voted along with my Lib Dem Colleagues, and a host of other MPs to defeat the government on the issue of Gurkha resettlement rights. It was, of course, exactly the right decision - as Nick Clegg put it devastatingly in his question to the Prime Minister that day, if they have a right to die for our country they should have a right to live in it, too.

We owe the Gurkhas a debt of gratitude, and I'm proud to have voted to support their cause - something that Stockport's two Labour MPs weren't prepared to do. The victory was also a timely reminder that your Local Lib Dem MPs can make a real difference to national decisions even when, for the time being, we're in opposition at Westminster. It was, of course, the Liberal Democrats who called the debate in the Commons, and who pressed the vote home. I must admit that even I was astonished that we carried the day, but it was great to share in the delight of the Ghurkha veterans outside when we did.

Read More:

British Fair Play for the Gurkhas [Stockport Express Article].

Local MPs Vote to Defeat Government on Gurkha Residence Rights.

Vulture Funds

Yes - it's a real one!

In parliament I have been at the forefront of the campaign to fight against Vulture Funds - hedge funds that buy-up bad debt of developing countries, and demand the money back with extortionate amounts of interest, often wiping out any aid money that the countries have been given.

Vulture funds have been a blight on the developing world for too long. In recent years at least 54 vulture funds are known to have taken legal action against 12 of the world's poorest countries. Most notably in 2007, a Vulture Fund called Donegal International won $15.5 million through the High Court in London in repayment for Zambian debt it bought for $3.3 million. This in effect cancelled out the benefits of the debt relief that Zambia had received earlier that year.

I was determined that something had to be done, so in May 2009, along with a group of 12 other MPs, I co-sponsored a bill in the House of Commons designed to curb the practices of these so-called Vulture Funds.

The Developing Country Debt (Restriction of Recovery) Bill made provision for the following:

• An end to hedge funds and other investors buying up Third World debt at cut-rate prices and then suing developing country governments through the UK courts for the full amount.

• Reporting arrangements to the UK and developing country governments.

• Transparency over who is involved in the funds.

• Anti-corruption measures

In late July 2009, after exerting much pressure on the Treasury, we secured a government u-turn on Vulture funds, with the Chancellor, Alastair Darling, announcing that Vulture Funds would face a clampdown. The Treasury has prepared a consultation document on the issue, with legislation expected to be introduced in late 2009 to provide important safeguards for 40 developing countries, and curb the worst abuses of the investment funds.

This was an important victory, not just for developing nations, but also for the British taxpayer, as it ensures that UK public funds that are earmarked for aid actually reach the people it is intended to help, rather than the pockets of the fat-cat investment funds. I would of course like the government to go further, and will be pressing for them to do so, but the proposals are a major step forward, and an important victory.

Read More:

Local MP Forces Government Climbdown on Vulture Funds.

Stunell Seeks to Clip the Wings of Vultures.

Overseas Development Volunteering

Back in March 2009 I heard about a scheme that the Department for International Development are running, called Platform2, giving youngsters the opportunity to volunteer overseas.

The project is run in conjunction with Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC, and the trip is fully funded, with applicants only having to pay for transport to and from the interview, to and from Heathrow Airport, and any passport costs.

The project is open to anyone from the age of 18-25, and more information is available at the following link:

www.myplatform2.com

Read More:

Stunell Urges Stockport Students to Take the Chance of a Lifetime.