News from Lynne Jones MP

I issued the following press release on Development spending on 27.05.04

27 May 2004

LYNNE JONES MP SUPPORTS BONO AND GELDOF TO PRESS GOVERNMENT OVER INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TARGET

I am pictured with other MPs and Bob Geldof supporting the 0.7% campaign

LYNNE JONES MP for Birmingham Selly Oak has publicly urged the Government to increase the amount it spends on international development in an open letter to the Financial Times on Saturday 22 May.

The Selly Oak MP joined over 40 MPs from all parties to sign the letter to the newspaper.  The letter recognised the Government’s increase in spending on development from 0.26% to 0.4% of Gross National Income (GNI), but pointed out that the world’s leaders signed up to a target of reaching 0.7% of GNI at the United Nations 34 years ago.

The letter is supported by Bob Geldof and Bono who have written to MPs under the banner of DATA – Debt AIDS Trade Africa.  Lynne Jones said: “I am glad that Bob Geldof and Bono are they are telling MPs that they must act and I will continue to do everything I can to support their call for action.”

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg and Netherlands have already reached 0.7% showing that it is achievable.  The MPs’ letter drew attention to the UK Government’s unique role next year as Chair of the G8 group of countries and as holder of the EU presidency - the Government has already declared its wish for 2005 to be a ‘development presidency’. 

With 2005 being a crucial year and a meeting last weekend of G7 finance ministers to discuss international finance and aid the MPs’ letter called for a commitment from the Government to meet the 0.7% target by 2008. 

Lynne Jones went on to say: “This target is achievable for this country and the poorest people in the world can’t afford for us not to take this action.  My constituents tell me how they want to see the things they take for granted such as clean water and primary education to be available to everyone in the world.  If we are going to achieve this, the time to act is now, and this letter gets across to the Government the immense support for this across the country.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Text of open letter to the Financial Times on Saturday 22 May is below

 

May 2004

Dear Tony and Gordon,

0.7% of GNI to be spent on International Aid

As MPs we recognise this Government’s increase in spending on international aid from 0.26% to 0.4% of GNI, but we know much more needs to be done if we are going to achieve the Millennium Development Goals that the world’s leaders signed up to.  For this reason we are pressing the Government to achieve the target 0.7% of GNI by 2008 as was agreed at the UN 34 years ago. If the Scandinavian countries have been able to do it for years we can too.

We know with the UK chairing the G8 and having the presidency of the European Union next year, 2005 has the potential to be a key year for development.  Far more can be achieved next year if we make the commitment to 0.7%.  This issue is particularly pertinent this weekend as the G7 Finance Ministers are meeting in New York to discuss international finance and aid.

Our constituents make it clear they want this to happen.  The time to act is now – we can afford to make the change, the poorest people in the world can’t afford for us not to.

Yours,

JULIA DROWN MP

JENNY TONGE MP

TONY BALDRY MP- Chair International Development Select Committee

ANN MCKECHIN MP

JOHN BARRETT MP

VAL DAVEY MP

SARAH TEATHER MP

WIN GRIFFITHS MP

ANNETTE BROOKE MP

HUGH BAYLEY MP

RICHARD ALLAN MP

IAN DAVIDSON MP

ALISTAIR CARMICHAEL MP

COLIN CHALLEN     MP

JOHN PUGH MP

BOB BLIZZARD MP

SUE DOUGHTY MP

MICHAEL MEACHER MP

SIR ARCHY KIRKWOOD MP

LINDA PERHAM MP

DAVID HEATH MP

TOM LEVITT MP

JOHN BATTLE MP

KERRY POLLARD MP

ALAN KEEN MP

JOHN MCFALL MP

MICHAEL CONNARTY MP

ANDY REED MP

JIM KNIGHT MP

LYNNE JONES MP

JOHN GROGAN

LOUISE ELLMAN

CLARE SHORT

DAVID DREW

DAVID TAYLOR

JOHN AUSTIN

PETER PIKE

CHRISTINE RUSSELL MP

IAN GIBSON MP

CHRIS MCCAFFERTY MP

TONY COLMAN MP

ALAN WHITEHEAD MP

PIARA KHABRA MP

TONY WORTHINGTON MP

DOUG NAYSMITH MP

MARK LAZAROWICZ MP