While most MPs might have been taking life easy in their constituencies after the New Year, Matthew was energetically engaged in a hectic Conservative Party visit to Bangladesh to see how the UK’s International Development budget is being spent. In addition to meeting with the country’s Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, Speaker of the Parliament, Finance Minister, Home Office Minister, British High Commissioner and the country’s MPs in the capital city of Dakha, he also travelled to the town of Sylhet in the east of the country to see how International Development money is being spent. Visiting a school and a village in the rural provinces, Matthew took the opportunity to find out how aid could be delivered in the short-term to achieve long-term benefits. This includes the building of additional classrooms at the school in Jogonnath Pur where the school was forced to turn away 300 children this year through a lack of space.
Matthew said: “There is a view from some of my constituents that the Government should not spend a penny overseas while we make cuts at home. Whilst I can understand this view, I agree with the Government that we will not emerge from the dire economic state we find ourselves in by cutting aid to the world’s poorest people overseas. I have always been a critic of the profligate spending of International Development monies but that does not mean I am against it all. I do not believe that the Government should legislate to spend 0.7% of GDP each year on International Development but should spend money in areas where it is most needed and where we can achieve practical objectives. This prevents countries such as Argentina and Zimbabwe receiving aid from the UK government.
I believe that in the long-term it is trade that will draw countries out of poverty but that will only be achieved if we make investments through aid. The most effective route to achieving this is through the education of the next generation, like the boy I met in Jogonnath Pur who is head of his class and is determined to become a medical doctor. It also means the education of girls in the state education system, an issue which was raised with me last year by pupils at Dollis Junior School and Hendon School. By focussing the International Development department’s attention on to such areas we can assist Bangladesh in taking its people out of poverty.”
Photo: Matthew is pictured giving sweets to local children in Sylhet