WATER PRIVATISATION IN AFRICA

Early day motion 311, tabled 13 June 2005 by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 48 members.

That this House notes that the Tanzanian Government has cancelled its agreement with UK private water company, Biwater, only two years into a 10 year contract and that the company delivered less than half of promised investment during the first two years of the contract; further notes that the Department for International Development paid the Adam Smith Institute £273,000 from the UK aid budget to run a public relations campaign aimed at persuading the Tanzanian public to support privatisation; believes it is scandalous that public money meant to reduce proverty is being used to force the failed policy of privatisation of water supplies on the developing world; and calls on the Government to protect Tanzania from any legal proceedings initiated by Biwater and to desist from using the aid budget to force privatisation on developing countries.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 18, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.