European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement amending the Cotonou Agreement) Order 2007

My Lords, I thank the Minister for explaining the orders. We on these Benches are happy to accept them. We support these moves to reduce global poverty, especially where good governance underpins agreements. I have three questions. First, the EDF is funded separately from the EU budget. The EU has not always been an effective mechanism for giving aid. How will the Government monitor the allocation or lending of funds? Secondly, to which countries do Her Majesty’s Government envisage the greatest amount going? That is important; the amount of EU aid to the poorest countries has gone down over the past10 years. How do the Government intend to rectify that? Thirdly, do they envisage most resources being allocated on bilateral programmes or through multilateral institutions such as the World Bank?If large amounts are to go directly to recipient Governments, how do Her Majesty’s Government envisage that corruption and fraud can be reduced as much as possible?