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BRITAIN-COMMONWEALTH-DIPLOMACY
UK threatens Commonwealth funds over procurement concerns
LONDON, Feb 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Britain has threatened to withhold part
of its funding for the organisation that runs the Commonwealth amid concerns
about how it awards contracts, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
Australia and New Zealand have also reportedly issued similar warnings to
the London-based secretariat, an administrative body which supports the 54
Commonwealth member countries.
It comes after an internal audit reportedly criticised Commonwealth
Secretary General Patricia Scotland for awarding a lucrative consultancy
contract to a company run by a friend.
The BBC said auditors also found the secretariat waived procurement rules
on at least 50 occasions over three years.
A Foreign Office spokesman told AFP it had imposed conditions on a
voluntary contribution due later this year, which was last year worth œ4.7
million (5.6 million euros, $6.1 million).
“We are committed to an effective Commonwealth that delivers for its
member states, so we have set a number of conditions on UK funding to the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation for this financial year,” it said
in a statement.
“These include conditions relating to ensuring that the secretariat’s
procurement policy and its implementation are in line with international best
practice.”
This does not affect automatic contributions made by Britain and other
member states.
The secretariat did not respond to a request by AFP for comment.
But a spokesperson was quoted as saying by the BBC: “The Commonwealth
Secretariat does not comment on private exchanges with its member countries.
“The secretariat complies fully with the audit process and implements
recommendations accordingly.”
Commonwealth nations are currently discussing Scotland’s future as
secretary general, with her first term due to expire next month.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has declined to publicly
support her for a second term, saying only that it will be for the
Commonwealth’s heads of government to decide.
Leaders are due to meet at a summit hosted by Rwanda in June.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1910HRS