Examination of Witnesses (Questions 40-43)
24 MARCH 2004
RT HON
HILARY BENN
MP, MR MATTHEW
WYATT AND
MS FELICITY
TOWNSEND
Q40 Mr Davies: History and familiarity
could be a comparative advantage.
Hilary Benn: That is a very good
way of describing it. Yes, we do have familiarity with particular
countries, and that is reflected in the pattern of programmes,
particularly across Africa. But if I could give an example, not
relating to Kenya, but if you take the Democratic Republic of
Congo, where traditionally and historically we have not had a
presence, but we are now a significant donor in the DRC, why have
we done that? Because I formed a view, given the scale of the
nightmare that the people of the DRC have experienced, the enormous
loss of life, the huge challenge which the new transitional government
in that country now faces, not to rebuild a state but to establish
a state for the first time; not to restore people's faith in the
Government, but, as President Kabila said to me in December, to
persuade people that there might actually be something called
government which has something to do with improving the lives
of the people of the DRC, and in those circumstances, we have
taken a decision, notwithstanding the lack of direct historical
connection, that we should be in there supporting the peace process
with increased aid in return for progress on that peace process,
and addressing the challenge that the country faces in the future.
Q41 Mr Davies: All that is splendid,
but it has nothing to do with comparative advantage. It has to
do with the perceived priority of the particular emergency that
presents itself. Comparative advantage is a concept which is entirely
linked to the supply side in the development equation, the question
of why we should do it rather than somebody else. I think I have
a clear answer that familiarity and historical connection is considered,
a priori, other things being equal, as a comparative advantage.
Hilary Benn: Yes.
Q42 Chairman: Comparative advantage also
involves trust, trust in institutions, trust in UK government,
trust in our institutions. Without being mischievous, I would
hope that history would judge our relationship with Kenya rather
better than Belgium's relationship with the Congo. Secretary of
State, you have been very generous with your time.
Hilary Benn: I hope it has been
helpful.
Q43 Chairman: I think it has been. We
tend as a Committee to look at themes. Most of our inquiries are
into climate change, migration, those kinds of things, so it is
not often that we actually focus on an individual country. Even
though it has been brief, I think it has actually been quite helpful,
and I think it has been quite helpful because it is actually fresh
in our minds and helps us with some of these concepts. If time
had permitted, I would have also been mischievous: when we were
in Nairobi, we came across a group that I thought were on to a
really good number, and these were the so-called Somali warlords,
who either you or someone put up at the Safari Lodge Hotel. I
think they were on their 24th round of peace talks. This seemed
to me a really good number! Perhaps some other time we could ask
you about that. You have been very kind in responding to a debate
on Somaliland, but I think at some stage, perhaps we could have
a discussion about those bits of Africa which are still problems,
like Sudan, Somalia, Congo, failing states, maybe in the context
of the discussions on the Commission for Africa, because that
is quite important.
Hilary Benn: Can I just say, Mr
Chairman, it has been a pleasure, not least, having come back
at six o'clock this morning from two days in Iraq, to have the
opportunity to turn my attention to other matters. I have certainly
found the questioning and the conversation helpful, and I hope
you have too.
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