§ 40. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Great Britain now proposes to make to the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
§ Mr. WoodAs I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 9th February, I have increased the original grant of £200,000 to £250,000 for the year 1970–71. For 1971–72, I shall increase it further to £275,000.—[Vol. 811, c. 154.]
§ Mr. HughesI welcome that reply, but does the right hon. Gentleman feel that even those increases are sufficient, in view of the great problem faced in population control?
§ Mr. WoodThey represent an increase of over five times in the past four years, which is quite considerable. The hon. Gentleman will realise that they are not the total of our contributions towards family planning, which are made through other agencies and voluntary agencies as well.
§ Sir D. RentonIs my right hon. Friend aware that he will be a very welcome guest at the function next week to launch the new campaign of the International Parenthood Federation, and that it will give him a good opportunity to show what this country can do—because we are one of the most highly-populated countries in the world—to enable other countries to profit by our experience in tackling the desperate problem of overpopulation?
§ Mr. WoodI am very grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for inviting me, and I look forward very much to that evening.
§ Mrs. HartIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase which he is announcing for the coming year is a very 34 modest one on the figure of the increase announced by the last Administration last June? We had hoped for much better for the coming year.
§ Mr. WoodThe right hon. Lady will admit that it is an increase of 25 per cent. To be entirely non-controversial, I would say that it continues the amount of increase she was making when in my office.