Campaign focus on global poverty

All parties have said they are committed to international aid

Global poverty has dominated election campaigning in Wales on Sunday with all four main Welsh parties outlining their policies to mark World Poverty Day.

Labour said it was committed to helping the people of the developing world.

Plaid Cymru called for an increase in overseas aid and for the cancellation of debt in poorer countries.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said the party would work towards ending global poverty, while the Welsh Tories pledged to increase the aid budget.

'Just world'

World Poverty Day was organised by the Make Poverty History campaign and aims to push international development up the electoral agenda.

All four main parties in Wales outlined their policies on how to help the world's poor on Sunday.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he was pleased the issue of global poverty had entered the election campaign.

He added: "As the tremendous response to the tsunami disaster showed, people in Wales are international in outlook and have a great interest in securing a sustainable and just world.

"Labour's commitment is to the people of the developing world.

"Our long-term aim is to help lift a billion people out of poverty."

'Less fortunate'

Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas, made a speech on Sunday calling for a fairer system for international trade, an increase in UK overseas aid and the "full cancellation of Third World debt".

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh assembly, AM Nick Bourne, said: "It is extremely important to focus attention on world poverty.

"As a country we have a responsibility to help all those around the world who are less fortunate than ourselves."

And the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Lembit Opik, said his party was committed to achieving a world free from poverty.

He added: "We would increase Britain's aid spending and seek to remove the subsidies and tariff barriers that suffocate the economies of the world's poorest countries."