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A few weeks ago, after the First Minister's visit to Malawi, I asked him how people in Scotland could be assured that the money that they donate will actually help people in Malawi and not line the pockets of corrupt politicians and officials.
Tom McCabe's covering note states:"we are currently re-visiting the … document with a view to becoming more strategic and forward-looking".As well as more strategic and forward looking, I suggest that the document needs to be delivered more promptly.
What it means to me is, I think, what we heard about during our visit to Europe a few weeks ago. It means encouraging national Governments to come to an agreement and endorse the financial framework within which the EU will operate and to build into their policy decisions some of the components arising from the Lisbon agenda.
Today, two constituents of mine, Mr and Mrs Duncan, are visiting the Parliament. Mr Duncan has been waiting since last March for his appointment to have hearing aids fitted.
I am trying to jog my memory, but as I recall the current minister Margaret Curran visited some Gypsy Traveller sites after the report was published to address some of the issues that it raised.
We have spoken for some time about visiting the Parliament in Strasbourg when it is in plenary session, so perhaps the committee will consider that at some point.
I do not know why the team cannot be open and straightforward about it instead of trying to tell us that there will be no additional cost. I paid my first visit down to that place last week. As someone who worked in engineering for many years, I was amazed to see in the garage area costly equipment that had been lying in dust for dear knows how long.