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The History of the Group

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Debt, Aid & Trade (APPG of DAT) has an extensive membership of over 170 MPs and Peers in the UK Parliament. It is Chaired by Ann McKechin MP who is a member of the International Development Select Committee in the UK Parliament. It is also one of the most active groups within Parliament and enjoys an excellent profile both internally and externally to Westminster.

It owes its heritage to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (APPG for HIPC) chaired by Julia Drown MP, and the Jubilee 2000 Campaign. The APPG then changed its name after the 2005 General Election to focus more holistically on the macroeconomic issues within the international development debate.

The group looks to foster cross-party interest and support for increased debt relief; the need for increased international aid delivered in a more efficient manner, and to promote an equitable international trading system for developing countries. It meets regularly with key stakeholders to discuss such pivotal issues, and has recently held a series of high-profile events to coincide with the UK Presidency of the G8.

The APPG is genuinely cross-party with a very strong executive drawn from the Labour Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats alike.

The current executive reads as follows:

Chair: Ann McKechin MP (Lab)

Vice Chairs: Peter Bottomley MP (Con), Mark Lazarowicz MP (Lab), David Drew MP, (Lab), Baroness Tonge (Lib Dem), Stephen O’Brien MP (Con), John Battle MP (Lab), Baroness Northover (Lib Dem)

Secretary: Andy Reed MP (Lab)

Coordinator: James Birch

Researcher: Janina Sanders