Chamber
Plenary, 17 Sep 2008
17 Sep 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
International Development
It is a great pleasure for me to participate in the debate. As members may know, I had a long-standing interest in international development even before my four years as deputy to Claire Short at DFID—exciting times, as one might imagine. I welcome the report, which is balanced and excellent. Sadly, the Scottish Government's development policy does not match the report. It does not reflect the report's priorities and it does not pick up most of the report's recommendations.
I listened to what the minister said in her introduction. It appears that, unlike previous Administrations, the SNP Administration sees its international development policy as part of a campaign for independence as much as a development policy. Although international development is a reserved area, I accept 100 per cent the important role that the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament can play. Des McNulty will confirm that, when I was a minister at DFID, I encouraged that. I encouraged the setting up of the cross-party group on international development and came to its first meeting.
Nevertheless, that role is complementary, not competitive. It is not about pretending that we are an independent nation. DFID has a budget of £5 billion and rising—nearly 1,000 times the Scottish Executive's budget for international development. Moreover, that budget has been doubled by the Labour Government and is moving towards the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product. Civil society organisations receive £274 million from DFID, which is distributed by a department that is based in East Kilbride, where DFID has 40 per cent of its staff in one of its two headquarters buildings. So, through DFID's department in East Kilbride, Scotland is contributing a huge amount to international development. Oxfam gets £19.6 million from DFID, which is three times the Scottish Executive's development budget.
However, development is not just about assistance; DFID is also involved in trade justice and debt cancellation. I would point out—particularly today—that it is Gordon Brown personally who has given a lead to debt cancellation and trade justice throughout the world. The Scottish Government should not try to replicate or duplicate the UK programme. I was disturbed to see plans for development in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Darfur and the Indian sub-continent as well as responses to international humanitarian crises—all out of £6 million. That is absolute nonsense.
The Malawi programme is exceptional. It builds on our special relationship with Malawi and it is unique. Any financial contribution that we can make to sub-Saharan Africa will not even scratch the surface of the first problem in any one of those countries. Further, anything that we could do in a humanitarian crisis would be almost meaningless.
I listened to what the minister said in her introduction. It appears that, unlike previous Administrations, the SNP Administration sees its international development policy as part of a campaign for independence as much as a development policy. Although international development is a reserved area, I accept 100 per cent the important role that the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament can play. Des McNulty will confirm that, when I was a minister at DFID, I encouraged that. I encouraged the setting up of the cross-party group on international development and came to its first meeting.
Nevertheless, that role is complementary, not competitive. It is not about pretending that we are an independent nation. DFID has a budget of £5 billion and rising—nearly 1,000 times the Scottish Executive's budget for international development. Moreover, that budget has been doubled by the Labour Government and is moving towards the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product. Civil society organisations receive £274 million from DFID, which is distributed by a department that is based in East Kilbride, where DFID has 40 per cent of its staff in one of its two headquarters buildings. So, through DFID's department in East Kilbride, Scotland is contributing a huge amount to international development. Oxfam gets £19.6 million from DFID, which is three times the Scottish Executive's development budget.
However, development is not just about assistance; DFID is also involved in trade justice and debt cancellation. I would point out—particularly today—that it is Gordon Brown personally who has given a lead to debt cancellation and trade justice throughout the world. The Scottish Government should not try to replicate or duplicate the UK programme. I was disturbed to see plans for development in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Darfur and the Indian sub-continent as well as responses to international humanitarian crises—all out of £6 million. That is absolute nonsense.
The Malawi programme is exceptional. It builds on our special relationship with Malawi and it is unique. Any financial contribution that we can make to sub-Saharan Africa will not even scratch the surface of the first problem in any one of those countries. Further, anything that we could do in a humanitarian crisis would be almost meaningless.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-2466, in the name of Malcolm Chisholm, on behalf of the European and External Relations Committee, on its...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome this opportunity, on behalf of the European and External Relations Committee, to open what I am sure will be a constructive and informative debate ...
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture (Linda Fabiani):
SNP
I congratulate the committee on securing the debate. The depth and breadth of the committee's inquiry was extensive and like the Scottish Government's public...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for her welcome as I take on a new role in which international development issues will be among the responsibilities. I also thank the E...
Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
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Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I am pleased to lead for the Liberal Democrats on a subject that not only has reaching implications for the fight against global poverty, but crucially aims ...
Ted Brocklebank:
Con
Dr Livingstone, I presume.
Jim Hume:
LD
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Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
As a new member of the European and External Relations Committee, I have not played a part in assembling the report that is before us. I have, however, read ...
Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the committee's report and recommendations and I commend the way in which the committee conducted its inquiry. I draw members' attention to my volu...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP):
SNP
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Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the committee and the clerks for all their work in providing the Parliament not only with much-needed, quality information but, more important, with ...
Linda Fabiani:
SNP
I take on board everything that Mrs Eadie has said. However, given that that campaign happened three years ago, can she tell me what the previous Government ...
Helen Eadie:
Lab
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Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
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Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
When I first heard that the Scottish Parliament was embarking on a course of international development, I was not a member of the Parliament, and I was struc...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab):
Lab
It is a great pleasure for me to participate in the debate. As members may know, I had a long-standing interest in international development even before my f...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
Will the member give way?
George Foulkes:
Lab
No.It is almost laughable to suggest that a meaningful contribution could be made to countries such as India or Pakistan, which are both vast countries, with...
The Minister for Schools and Skills (Maureen Watt):
SNP
Will the member give way?
George Foulkes:
Lab
The minister will have an opportunity later. I ask the minister to tell us, when she winds up, whether she will take up Oxfam's suggestion that £180,000 shou...
Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP):
SNP
Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and to the convener of the European and External Relations Committee for not being here for the start of the debate. I ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
We move to the winding up speeches, and I call Hugh O'Donnell. Mr O'Donnell, you have seven minutes.
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
Thank you, Presiding Officer—that is very generous.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
It is your lucky day.
Hugh O'Donnell:
LD
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Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
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Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
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Linda Fabiani:
SNP
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Pauline McNeill:
Lab
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