HC Deb 30 July 1984 vol 65 c16
40. Mr. Stuart Holland

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will restore official development assistance to the 1979 level and set a date by which Her Majesty's Government will achieve the 0.7 per cent. United Nations' target.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Timothy Raison)

Current plans for aid expenditure are set out in the most recent public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 9143. Like the previous Government, we are not prepared to set a date for the achievement of the 0.7 per cent. United Nations' target.

Mr. Holland

As this is the third time that we have raised the matter in recent days, the Minister is well aware that aid as a proportion of GNP is down to 0.35 per cent.—among the lowest of any European country. We do not even have a recognition of the problem or a wringing of hands. May we have some statement from the Minister about what he intends to do, or will he admit that he is now the Minister of Under-Development and resign?

Mr. Raison

Our figure of 0.35 per cent. is similar to the OECD average of 0.36 per cent. I stress that in the past two years the cash allocations for aid have more than kept pace with inflation.

Mr. Forman

Before agreeing to any United Nations figure, will my right hon. Friend give more urgent and necessary help to some of the drought-afflicted regions of Africa?

Mr. Raison

I am happy to say that the Government are contributing £1 million to the Famine in Africa appeal of the Disasters Emergency Committee, £350,000 to appeals from the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and a further £150,000 to the Africa appeal of the international committee of the Red Cross. I have also set aside a further £3 million for use as emergency and humanitarian relief, primarily through the voluntary agencies, and will offer 2,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid for distribution in Ethiopia by voluntary agencies.

Mr. Barnett

In view of the appalling situation that exists in part of Africa, we are grateful for that announcement. Will the right hon. Gentleman also take on board the fact that where he is able to channel money through voluntary organisations it often allows him to make that aid available to both sides in a dispute?

Mr. Raison

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks about my statement. At the international conference on assistance to refugees in Africa, and by the increased support for the joint funding scheme, I have shown clearly over the past few weeks my support for the voluntary sector.

Mr. Lester

While accepting that percentage figures can cloak a lot of money, may I ask my right hon. Friend to give details of how great a percentage of our aid programme now goes to the poorest nations—which is the most effective use of aid—rather than the general figure?

Mr. Raison

I shall give my hon. Friend a precise figure, but I think that it is over 60 per cent. of our bilateral programme.

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