ODI is pleased to announce that the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development (APGOOD) has been re-formed and is working to keep international development high on the agenda in the new Parliament.
At its AGM on Tuesday 6th July, the Group elected Rt Hon David Laws MP (Lib Dem) as Chair and Lord McFall (Labour, former Chair of the Treasury Select Committee) as Vice Chair. Tony Baldry MP (Con) and Rt Hon Tom Clarke MP (Lab), two long-term supporters of APGOOD and friends of the ODI, remain as Vice Chair and Treasurer respectively. Nicola Blackwood MP (Con) has agreed to become the Group’s Secretary.
Commenting on the announcement, Alison Evans, ODI Director, said:
"We are delighted with the executive officers elected to lead the Group over the next Parliament. We have been able to build on APGOOD’s strong reputation and ODI’s reputation as a think tank to recruit some new high profile officers.“Both David and John are well-respected in Parliament and will be authoritative voices in future discussions on the UK development budget and on the value-for-money and effectiveness of development assistance – as well as on many other issues."APGOOD kicked off its programme for this year by co-hosting an event on Tuesday 20th July, where Bill Gates (Co-founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) spoke alongside Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP (Minister of State for International Development), Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP (Shadow Secretary of State for International Development) and Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP (Chair, International Development Select Committee).
ODI has provided the secretariat to APGOOD since its inception in 1984. As one of the longest-standing All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG), it has an important role to play in bringing together members from all political parties and both Houses of Parliament to discuss key issues on the development agenda.
For more information on the work of APGOOD, please contact Jonathan Tanner, Media and Public Affairs Officer, on +44 (0) 20 7 922 0431 or at [email protected].