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International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill

I agree wholeheartedly, which is why aid should go to individual people, rather than to Governments. On 23 July 2005, The Business magazine said:"““A 1 per cent. increase in aid to Africa produces a 3.5 per cent. drop in real per capita growth.””" That is a result of the way in which the money is made available, and it demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such aid. Under new clause 7, the Government are required to include in the report observations about the value of aid and about the effect of third-party regulation and controls. Bob Geldof said:"““The EU is the greatest protection racket ever invented. Al Capone would be desperately proud of the EU—we’ve just extended our fences to the east.””" He declared, too, that Africa needed entrepreneurial spirit. Such observations capture the public’s imagination, and it would be interesting to see whether the Government’s observations in the annual report can do the same.