HC Deb 04 July 1977 vol 934 cc879-80
35. Mr. Forman

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the estimated cost of the new aid commitments for the United Kingdom which have arisen out of the North-South dialogue.

Mrs. Hart

The only new aid commitment arising from the North-South dialogue to which a specific figure has been attached is the $1 billion "Special Action" programme of quickly disbursing aid to individual low-income countries. The United Kingdom share of this will be $115 million, equivalent to about £67 million.

Mr. Forman

In view of the difficulty of raising sums of that kind, and bearing in mind the Prime Minister's statement over the weekend that there was light at the end of the national economic tunnel, may I ask the right hon. Lady whether she is aware that many of us on this side of the House would want to support any efforts which she might make, collectively or otherwise, to get the aid budget up again on overseas official assistance?

Mrs. Hart

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comment, but he will have observed what the hon. Member for Horncastle (Mr. Tapsell) said in the aid debate of 10 days or two weeks ago. I hope that he will persuade his hon. Friends to support the commitment which he and, I know, others on the Conservative Benches would like to make.

Mr. MacFarquhar

Will my right hon. Friend, in examining any of the aid commitments which her Department is to make—and all are welcome—investigate the possibility of spending more money on the teaching of English abroad which the Prime Minister agreed, after the Commonwealth Conference, was a very important aspect of our relations with our Commonwealth partners in particular?

Mrs. Hart

We should be very glad to extend our operations in this field. As my hon. Friend knows, we already do a great deal, and so does the British Council. Indeed, last week I had the opportunity of talking to representatives of one of the French Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa who emphasised to me how much they wanted the teaching of English and the British cultural presence to be part of whatever Britain could do in co-operation with them. I am completely aware of this.