Session 2012-13
Public engagement in policy-making
Written evidence submitted by Karen Hudes (PE 3)
Written evidence submitted by Karen Hudes on Public Engagement in Policy-making
· outsource with great caution, based on lessons learned about undisclosed conflicts
1. I am a lawyer and economist who worked for twenty years in the legal department of the World Bank. Before the civil service outsources government policy-making functions, lessons must be learned from previous efforts. The Commons Select Committee on International Development published my testimony on the Independent Commission for Aid Impact at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmintdev/writev/402/contents.htm
2. The UK government's fiduciary responsibility to UK taxpayers cannot be outsourced. Hidden conflicts in the private sector are not readily apparent in many instances. Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, is advising the Government in support of the agenda to open up policy-making. Yet Wikipedia erroneously reverted my edits to disclose the end of the Gentlemen's Agreement for the United States to appoint the President of the World Bank.
October 2012