HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc18-20
52. Mr. Canavan

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to meet the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent. gross national product for overseas aid.

Mr. Neil Marten

As I explained to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) on 1 December, we accept in principle the target of 0.7 per cent., but we are not committed to a target date for achieving it. Preliminary estimates suggest that our 1980 oda/GNP ratio will be substantially below the level recorded in 1979. Technical factors, including for example the fact that no promissory notes in respect of the International Development Association were deposited before the end of the calendar year because of a failure by the previous United States Congress to ratify, played an important part in this.

Mr. Canavan

As the Government plan a reduction of more than 14 per cent. in the overseas aid programme which they inherited from the previous Labour Government, will the Minister at least have the honesty to admit that the Government have now abandoned any intention of meeting the United Nations' target, yet the same Government have such a distorted sense of priorities that they propose to spend possibly up to 10 times the annual overseas aid budget on a replacement for the Polaris missile?

Mr. Marten

Absolutely not. Our policy of achieving 0.7 per cent. is the same policy as that of the Opposition when they were in Government.

Mr. Farr

When my hon. Friend is considering what economies he will have to make, will he give the House an undertaking that no economies will be made in aid to Zimbabwe, a newly-emergent Commonwealth country that has a great future and which is badly in need of overseas help?

Mr. Marten

I recognise what lay behind that question, and, while the Government would like to do what they can, it would be risky to give an assurance of that nature. However, I shall bear in mind my hon. Friend's remarks.

Mr. McElhone

If the Government cannot reach the target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national product, will the Minister reconsider the paltry amount of £75 million that we give in aid to Zimbabwe, in view of the critical situation there and the urgent problem of resettlement?

Mr. Marten

We constantly think of the problems of that country. A donors' conference will take place towards the end of March. We must wait and see what happens then, particularly in regard to aid from the United Kingdom and other countries.

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