Appendix: Government response
Preface
The Government welcomes the Committee's report and
the additional attention that it has brought to the Commission
for Africa. We see the Committee's report as a positive and constructive
contribution to what is an important issue.
The Commission for Africa (CFA) reported on March
11. The Government strongly welcomes the publication of this report.
It is a significant achievement to bring together the views of
17 Commissioners, as well as extensive consultations, to make
a well argued case for change.
The Report's recommendations speak for themselves.
We agree with the CFA's conclusions that we need a big push for
Africa, now; that the international community and Africa need
to take responsibility; that the only game in town is partnership,
and that rich countries have to support an African-led agenda.
We endorse the emphasis on better governance and the call for
donors to provide more and better aid.
The Report echoes Government policy in many areas.
Some recommendations, such as those on more resources and better
aid, are being worked on already. However, there are others where
we are thinking carefully about how we respond. The report is
an important call to action for all of us.
The recommendations of the Report are recommendations
for the world, not just the UK government. We are committed to
doing our bit and will give serious and careful consideration
to all of the recommendations set out in the report, but it is
not for us to do all of them. Our job now, as President of the
G8 and EU, is to maintain the momentum of the Commission's report,
and to help to ensure that the whole world makes an appropriate
response.
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