International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill

I am grateful to the Minister for that full response. I am grateful to the promoter of the Bill for his contribution, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) for his remarks. Eric Forth would indeed be proud of the detailed scrutiny that we have given to the amendments today. Amendment No. 15 was the principal subject of discussion. I said earlier that the amendments and new clauses were effectively a shopping list and that at the end of the discussion we would choose which to put to the vote. In responding to amendment No. 15, the Minister said that the Government take the issues of corruption seriously. If so, why cannot they possibly accept the amendment? It would merely require, in the interests of transparency, that the Government should produce and include in the annual report observations about progress in relation to"““promoting the establishment of a link between the commitment of aid and the reduction of corruption in recipient countries.””" I think that it is a no-brainer that that should be included in the Bill, and I propose that amendment No. 15 should be put to the vote. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn.