§ 44. Mr. Goodhartasked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will review the British aid programme in view of the change in the price of oil and other commodities which has taken place in the last two years.
§ Mrs. HartI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 5th April.—[Vol. 871, c. 479.]
§ Mr. GoodhartMay I remind the Minister that on 30th January she accepted that there was a strong case for taking a completely new look at our aid programme in view of the dramatic change in commodity prices? In a wide-ranging review of our aid commitments, will the right hon. Lady consider increasing dramatically the proportion of our aid that is earmarked for disaster relief?
§ Mrs. HartYes, Sir. I am glad to tell the hon. Gentleman that, although I cannot yet give the results of our review, I am taking a close look at how we should organise disaster relief in so far as it concerns my Ministry and what we should do within our aid framework to provide continuing amounts for that purpose. It is clear that the famine and disaster situation is not likely to be much improved in the next year or two. Therefore, we must take full account of that situation.