§ 26. Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will state the details of the cuts in overseas aid to developing countries which it is proposed to make in order to implement the decision to reduce overseas aid by £20 million.
§ Mr. BottomleyI refer my hon. Friend to replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 24th October and to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 22nd November last.—[Vol. 734, c. 118 and c. 270.]
§ Mr. LyonDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it makes no kind of sense in the modern world to try to reduce our aid to developing countries where the tensions are so great and the dangers to world peace are so threatening and that this is a very short-sighted economy?
§ Mr. BottomleyWe are doing what we can with available resources consistent with the economic difficulties confronting the country.
§ Sir F. BennettIn his Answer about this reduction of £20 million, has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account his Answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) about maintaining and improving the figure of 1 per cent.? Does he call this a slowing-down or a reduction?
§ Mr. BottomleyWe have been increasing aid each year and while the forecast for next year, which we hoped 702 would be higher, will not reach our target, the increase goes on consistently and has been higher than that given by the previous Government.