Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): Has the Minister assessed the effectiveness of development funding spent by the EBRD compared with that spent by the European Union-or, indeed, by his own Department-in particular to ensure good governance and transparency?
Mr. Thomas: I have not conducted such a comparative assessment, but I do have a strong regard for the work of the EBRD. For example, it has played critical roles in helping to modernise a variety of electricity plants across Russia and Poland, in helping to upgrade regional road networks, and in railway projects. It is also playing a crucial role in the decommissioning of nuclear plants in Lithuania and in Russia. It is making an important contribution, and I welcome the fact that it is shifting its focus to the poorest countries in the region. We will continue to work with it very closely.
