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All Party Parliamentary Group for Debt, Aid and Trade (APPG DAT)

All Party Parliamentary Group for Debt, Aid & TradeThe All Party Parliamentary Group for Debt, Aid and Trade (APPG DAT) was created in 2005 with the aim of bringing together parliamentarians concerned with macroeconomic issues within the international development debate. The APPG has developed into a forum for discussion around debt, aid and trade in the developing world, bringing these crucial issues, as one, to a Parliamentary audience for the first time.

The APPG DAT now has an extensive membership of over 170 MPs and Peers in the UK Parliament and is Chaired by Alison McGovern MP who is the member of parliament for Wirral South. The APPG is one of the most active groups within Parliament and enjoys an excellent profile both internally and externally to Westminster.

The group looks to foster cross-party interest and support for increased debt relief; the need for increased international aid delivered in a more efficient manner, and to promote an equitable international trading system for developing countries. It meets regularly with key stakeholders to discuss such pivotal issues.

In Parliament the All Party Group provides a range of briefings for its members to utilise and organises events to bring together parliamentarians and interested stakeholders. It monitors developments in parliament relating to macroeconomic issues and international development. The group also actively promotes and raises awareness of international development issues in Parliament via a range of parliamentary tools. These include: 

  • the suggested tabling of parliamentary questions (both written and oral) 
  • the proposal of Early Day Motions 
  • through organising adjournment or topical debates in the chambers as well as the introduction of Private Members and 10 Minute Rule Bills
  • conducting inquiries

The APPG enjoys genuine cross-party support from both Houses, with a very strong executive drawn from the Labour Party, Conservative and Liberal Democrats alike.

Current Executive

  • Chair: Alison McGovern MP (Lab)
  • Vice Chairs: Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Con); John Leech MP (LD)
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Virenda Sharma MP (Lab)

Reports

2011 - A Parliamentary Inquiry into Gender, Debt, Aid and Trade

The inquiry will examine how development is experienced differently by men and women.

It will also investiage how the new priorities of DfID are like to affect women in the developing world, and how these interrelate with other gender bassed issues such as: health including maternal health and HIV and AIDS; masculinities and traditional roles; access to finance; education; violence against women; work (formal and informal including sex workers); conflict and politics and power.

2010 - A Parliamentary Inquiry into Aid Effectiveness

In these difficult global economic conditions - with developing countries suffering from falling levels of investment, export income and remittance flows, and as a weakening pound affects the reach of UK Official Development Assistance - it has become even more essential to ensure that every pound of aid we spend is effective and has the greatest possible impact on reducing global poverty.

Described by Roger Riddell as 'path-breaking' this report highlights some of the key issues of aid effectiveness in what is a crucial year for international development. With only 5 years to go until the Millennium Development Goals must be met and with the commitments made under the Paris Declaration due to be fulfilled this year, there is a vital need for Parliamentarians to engage with the aid effectiveness agenda.

2007 - Meeting the Millennium Promise is a report conducted by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Debt, Aid and Trade

The group took evidence from a range of governments, NGOs, financial actors, academics and other stakeholders into possible innovative sources of finance to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

2005 - If Not Now, When? Urgent recommendations on debt cancellation from a strong and prosperous Africa

The All Party Group, under its previous incarnation as the APPG on Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, produced this major report in 2005 in advance of the G8 Gleneagles Summit. It was submitted to the Commission for Africa and subsequently had a wide range of policy recommendations adopted.

Amongst those consulted during the debt hearings in 2004/05 were:

  • Rt. Hon Gordon Brown MP
  • Rt. Hon Hilary Benn MP
  • Mr Donald Kaberuka, (Rwandan Finance Minister) 
  • Professor Jeffrey Sachs, author of the UN Millennium Project Report. 

The group was also pleased to consult with:

  • Christian Adovelande (President, ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development)
  • Mr Bill Meara, Economic Officer at the US Embassy 
  • Policy analysts ranging from Sony Kapoor to Noreena Hertz.

A number of written submissions were put to the group from the Kenyan High Commission; the Nigerian High Commission; African Economic Outlook (AEO) and Economic Development in Africa. It also drew on a number of specialist papers submitted by leading NGOs such as the Jubilee Debt Campaign, Oxfam, World Development Movement, Cafod and ActionAid.