HC Deb 22 March 1971 vol 814 cc31-3
38. Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the report to him of the chairman of the Development Assistance Committee on the British overseas aid memorandum for 1969.

Mr. Wood

No, Sir.

Mr. Cunningham

Would it not be useful for Parliament and the public to be aware of the frank comments which the chairman of the Development Assistance Committee makes each year on the various financial programmes, and the British programmes in particular, so as to help them assess the part played by the British Government?

Mr. Wood

The chairman of the D.A.C. writes on a personal basis to the members of the Committee, and it has not been the practice to publish those comments from him. On the other hand, the O.E.C.D., as the hon. Gentleman knows, publishes an annual report by the chairman on the development assistance efforts of all the D.A.C. member countries.

39. Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of Great Britain's performance on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development aid target in respect of official flows in 1970–71.

Mr. Wood

It is too early to attempt a considered estimate.

Mr. Cunningham

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that on present proposals for an increase in gross aid over the next few years there is likely to be little increase in the percentage of our gross national product going into official aid, and certainly nowhere near enough to bring us remotely within sight of the Pearson target by 1975? Will he consider increasing gross aid to take an increased percentage of G.N.P?

Mr. Wood

The reason I did not want to give an estimate at present, as the hon. Gentleman asked, is that any estimate made now without full knowledge of the figures might confuse him and the House.

Sir T. Beamish

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that only eight countries reached the Pearson target last year, that is, Switzerland, Denmark and the six Common Market countries?

Mr. Wood

My hon. and gallant Friend know that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that we should do our best to reach that target by 1975.