Catholic MP to chair development grouping

A CATHOLIC MP and prominent campaigner for the relief of Third World debt has won a key position on an influential parliamentary grouping of MPs.
John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West. was this week elected Chairman of the powerful All-party parliamentary Group on Overseas Development (APGOOD). He defeated Conservative Jim Lestor during a vote at a packed meeting of MPs at Westminster.
Mr Battle. a columnist for the Catholic Herald and for many years an overseas development worker with the Catholic Institute of International Relations (CUR), will now play a key role in promoting development issues in the House of Commons.
"The momentum of public interest in both development and the environment has been raised to new levels by the Rio Summit," said Mr Battle. "We must ensure that this momentum is kept up in Parliament."
Referring to the debt burden on the Third World, the MP told the House of Commons: "It seems to Third World countries that they are trying to go up an escalator that is coming down against them and speeding up in the process."
His election comes in the same week as a new poll front four leading international aid agencies revealing extensive public support for action on Third World poverty.