MPs agree on setting up a bi-partisan Committee on MDGs

On September 17th, during a UN sponsored event, attending Members of Parliaments – less than 10 - agreed to set up a bi-partisan Committee to specifically deal with MDG and development issues. Membership to the Committee is open to any MPs , even if they are not sitting in the Foreign Affairs Committee. The main purpose of this new official body is to measure political interest in development related issues among MPs and to highlight development as a standing alone issue beyond foreign affairs. A similar Committee was set up following the signing of the Millennium Declaration in 2001, but had no real influence in the Parliamentary debate of the time.