OUR generation is probably the first that can make a real difference to the discrepancy of wealth and opportunity which exists around the world today.

We know so much more about what works and we know what needs to be done. We understand, for example, that it is conflict ultimately which mires people in poverty. I have seen them for myself, some of the dreadful refugee camps around the world, such as in Gaza and in Lebanon.

If you are languishing in one of those camps, it doesn't matter how much access to aid and to trade and to money you have; until the conflict is over you are going to remain poor, miserable, frightened and dispossessed.

In just the same way, we know it is conflict which mires people in poverty and condemns them to stay there, so we now generally accept it is free trade and the private sector, wealth creation, enterprise and jobs which lift people out of poverty. We also know that aid spent well works miracles, not least when we are talking about maternal health.

This coalition Government is motivated by a shared determination to erode these vast inequalities of opportunity that we see around the world. Ours is a new agenda, one of value for money; accountability, transparency and empowerment.

We have promised to enshrine in law Britain's commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI on overseas aid from 2013. Crucially, we will keep aid free from commercial interests.

This new agenda will underpin our approach to the Millennium Development Goals. These goals, agreed by the UN ten years ago, were the concrete embodiment of our generations' collective commitment to tackle the terrible poverty and suffering that afflict so many.

As well as being in our own national interest that is also our shared moral obligation. Yes, the commitment has led to some real results: we are on track to halve extreme poverty; we've made strong progress on universal primary education, where some 13 African countries look set to achieve that MDG; measles-related deaths fell by 78 per cent between 2000 and 2008.

However, in other areas progress is patchy. Most regions are off-track on tackling child mortality, while progress on maternal health is especially disappointing.

The world of 2010 is not the world of 2000. We've had food price hikes, a global recession and a massive increase in the cost of fuel. Some argue that against this backdrop we should focus our attention on domestic priorities. That charity begins at home. Maybe, but it doesn't end there.

This really is a time to reaffirm our promises to the world's poor, not abandon them. We should never balance the books on the backs of the world's poorest people.

Promoting global prosperity is also very much in our own interests.

Development is good for our economy, our safety, our health, our future. It is the best return on investment you will find.

So, our response is not to abandon the MDGs but to encourage all parties to work towards a clear action plan that can be agreed at this September's UN summit. For our part, Britain will also be aligning development more effectively with other policies.

In the UK, we have brought together the three policy pillars of development, defence and diplomacy through our new National Security Council. This synergy will allow us to reduce poverty in fragile states, while also building capacity and guaranteeing security and stability.

I think what causes a lot of people concern is where their money actually goes and whether it is being properly policed. It is also crucial to demonstrate value for money in aid. That is why we have launched our new Aid Transparency Guarantee, a guarantee that will help to make aid transparent to citizens in the UK and to those in recipient countries.

There will also be a new independent body that will gather evidence about the effectiveness of our programmes.

Millions of people around the world are denied the dignity and the opportunity they deserve. We can change that.

The playwright, George Bernard Shaw once said the essence of inhumanity wasn't hate, it was indifference. He was right: indifference kills.

September's MDG Summit represents a golden opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are not indifferent, that we will recommit to the promises that we made ten years ago to the world's poor.