Parliamentary water inquiry welcomed
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Select Committee to investigate access to water in the developing world
The World Development Movement (WDM) today welcomed the announcement of a Water and Sanitation inquiry by the House of Commons International Development Committee (IDC). The inquiry will focus on how donors like the Department for International Development (DfID) can help reach the water Millennium Development Goal. The inquiry was announced one week after the UK government launched its new White Paper, Eliminating World Poverty, which committed the government to doubling the amount of money spent on water and sanitation in Africa. WDM Head of Campaigns Murray Benham said: "It is good to see that the issue of access to clean water and sanitation is being taken seriously. Time and time again water privatisation projects have ended in disaster in the developing world. This inquiry represents the ideal opportunity for MPs to look at the evidence on the most effective way of getting water to people. "The announcement of additional funds for water and sanitation in Africa is very welcome. Now we need to make sure that it is spent wisely. Globally there is a growing recognition that if we are to deliver the Millennium Development Goal, of halving the number of people without access to water by 2015, investing in the public sector is the only way forward." ENDS |
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