§ 59. Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if aid expenditure in 1983–84 will be more, in real terms, than expenditure in the current year.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe hon. Member should await a statement on public expenditure levels which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is due to give to the House later this afternoon.
§ Mr. DeakinsHas not the position of poor countries become immeasurably worse in the past 12 months as debt burdens have mounted while commodity prices have failed to rise? Will the Minister at least undertake to ensure that the interests of poor countries will be a top priority under 311 the public expenditure heading for this item next year rather than the commercial considerations that have so far ruled the aid programme?
§ Mr. MartenWe shall adjust our priorities when we see what is available, and the hon. Gentleman will hear about that later today.