HC Deb 30 January 1974 vol 868 c435
27. Mr. Douglas-Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the international aid con sortia with a view to counteracting the limitations on the scope of overseas aid imposed by Section 114 of the United States Foreign Assistance Act.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Richard Wood)

I have made none, Sir.

Mr. Douglas-Mann

Is the Minister aware that the section in question has been amended by the recent United States Act to prevent the use of foreign assistance by recipient countries for the promotion or encouragement of abortion? Is he aware that, according to the article in The Times by Caroline Moorehead on 21st January, one-third of the world's pregnancies end in abortion, and can he estimate the impact that a 50 per cent. increase in the velocity of the population explosion would have? Will he take steps to restore the freedom of recipient countries to deal with their population problems as they themselves think best, having regard to the circumstances prevailing in those countries?

Mr. Wood

We have given a great deal of attention to these problems, and our aid for family planning in developing countries which want our assistance has been increasing considerably. But our own aid is not used to provide abortions and I feel, therefore, that there is no cause for the kind of intervention which the hon. Gentleman has suggested.