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Tory group backs 'efficient' aid End trade barriers, says Cameron
(20 minutes later)
Aid distribution to poor countries needs to be better scrutinised and more efficient to help them overcome poverty, says a Tory policy group. Tory leader David Cameron has called for an end to trade barriers that put developing countries at an "unfair disadvantage", during a trip to Rwanda.
Party leader David Cameron has been launching the group's report in a speech to Rwanda's parliament. He said all rich countries should end trade tariffs unilaterally and British aid spending should be speeded up.
It says more aid money should go on infrastructure and agriculture to promote economic growth. Launching a policy group's report on global poverty, he said trade rules were "immoral".
Other proposals, which may or may not be adopted as Tory policy, include helping train and fund medical staff. The group's proposals, which may or may not be adopted as Tory policy, include making aid spending more "transparent".
The Tory review of globalisation and global policy has been headed by former minister Peter Lilley, who said the developing world's extreme poverty was a "moral disgrace". In a speech in Kigali, Mr Cameron called for an immediate end to trade barriers, saying: "Forget the endless tortuous negotiations about getting something in return.
Sustainable growth "Just do it. We can afford it, Africa needs it, and we will all benefit from it."
'Empowering' people
The policy group, headed by former minister Peter Lilley, says aid distribution to poor countries needs to be better scrutinised and more efficient to help them overcome poverty.
The report calls for Britain to do more to "empower" people in developing countries.The report calls for Britain to do more to "empower" people in developing countries.
In his foreword to the report Mr Lilley said: "It is vital to help promote economic growth which alone can fund their social spending on a sustainable basis. In his foreword Mr Lilley said: "It is vital to help promote economic growth which alone can fund their social spending on a sustainable basis.
It is important to improve the efficiency of that aid ... making sure it is not wasted Peter LilleyIt is important to improve the efficiency of that aid ... making sure it is not wasted Peter Lilley
"Hence our call for renewed emphasis on assistance geared to promoting economic growth - through support for physical and commercial infrastructure and for agriculture on which the majority of poor people depend.""Hence our call for renewed emphasis on assistance geared to promoting economic growth - through support for physical and commercial infrastructure and for agriculture on which the majority of poor people depend."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he welcomed UN aid targets but said the money would not be sufficient, unless it was properly monitored. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he welcomed UN aid targets but said it was important to make sure aid was not "wasted", either by donors or by corruption.
"It is important to improve the efficiency of that aid and a lot of the report is about ways of doing that, making sure it is not wasted, either by donors or by corruption and waste within countries," he said. Mr Cameron delivered the key findings in a speech to the Rwandan Parliament, during a short trip to the east African country.
Mr Cameron was delivering the key findings in a speech to the Rwandan Parliament, during a short trip to the east African country.
He has dismissed suggestions he would be better back in the UK - addressing the flooding crisis and criticism within his own party.He has dismissed suggestions he would be better back in the UK - addressing the flooding crisis and criticism within his own party.
Mr Lilley told the BBC it was important a potential future prime minister knew what was happening in countries like Rwanda.Mr Lilley told the BBC it was important a potential future prime minister knew what was happening in countries like Rwanda.
And he said, despite the media focus on flooding in counties including Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, the Tory policy findings were "getting quite a lot of attention".And he said, despite the media focus on flooding in counties including Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, the Tory policy findings were "getting quite a lot of attention".
Other recommendations include:Other recommendations include:
  • Increasing the proportion of aid money allocated to infrastructure and trade
  • Increasing the proportion of aid money allocated to infrastructure and trade
  • Publishing individual aid entitlements of individual hospitals, schools etc - to help them scrutinise the way it is being spent
  • Publishing individual aid entitlements of individual hospitals, schools etc - to help them scrutinise the way it is being spent
  • A curtailment of NHS recruitment of doctors and nurses from the developing world - which leaves some countries short of medics
  • A curtailment of NHS recruitment of doctors and nurses from the developing world - which leaves some countries short of medics
  • The British government should help train medical staff and meet part of their salaries where necessary
  • The British government should help train medical staff and meet part of their salaries where necessary
  • The World Bank should track corruption which hampers progress in the developing world
  • The World Bank should track corruption which hampers progress in the developing world
  • Aid distribution should be simplified under a single agency
  • Aid distribution should be simplified under a single agency
    • Mr Cameron has brushed off reports of discontentment within his party over his performance as leader and his determination to move it to the "centre ground", saying there would be no return to the "comfort zone" favoured by Tory traditionalists.Mr Cameron has brushed off reports of discontentment within his party over his performance as leader and his determination to move it to the "centre ground", saying there would be no return to the "comfort zone" favoured by Tory traditionalists.
    I'm just sending warning signals from the back ranks ... 'look chum, we need to do some re-thinking' Lord KalmsTory donorI'm just sending warning signals from the back ranks ... 'look chum, we need to do some re-thinking' Lord KalmsTory donor
    On Tuesday Lord Kalms, a major party donor and former Treasurer, was reported as telling the Financial Times he was "disillusioned to a substantial degree" with Mr Cameron.On Tuesday Lord Kalms, a major party donor and former Treasurer, was reported as telling the Financial Times he was "disillusioned to a substantial degree" with Mr Cameron.
    He later told the BBC he was supportive of Mr Cameron, but felt he was not giving the party the confidence it needed to win the next general election.He later told the BBC he was supportive of Mr Cameron, but felt he was not giving the party the confidence it needed to win the next general election.
    Mr Cameron needed to signal that he was concerned about the issues that mattered to Tory traditionalists like Europe, social cohesion, taxation and smaller government.Mr Cameron needed to signal that he was concerned about the issues that mattered to Tory traditionalists like Europe, social cohesion, taxation and smaller government.
    "Too many areas of policy are being left aside not to be discussed in detail and we seem to be chasing rather less substantive policies," he said."Too many areas of policy are being left aside not to be discussed in detail and we seem to be chasing rather less substantive policies," he said.
    "I'm just sending warning signals from the back ranks ... 'look chum, we need to do some re-thinking'," he added."I'm just sending warning signals from the back ranks ... 'look chum, we need to do some re-thinking'," he added.