HC Deb 19 March 1984 vol 56 cc702-3
41. Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs if it is his intention to increase the size of the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations Children's Fund in the coming financial year.

Mr. Raison

Subject to parliamentary approval we shall contribute £6 million to UNICEF's general resources, the same as in 1983–84. The level of our contribution is, however, reviewed regularly.

Mr. Barnett

The Minister will know from a reply that I received from his Department on 7 March that this country's record of contributions to UNICEF is one of the worst in the world——

Mr. Raison

indicated dissent——

Mr. Barnett

Indeed it is. In view of the great encouragement and endorsement that the Prime Minister gave to the director of UNICEF when he visited this country, should not the Minister reconsider that answer and the need to raise the level of our contribution to that highly effective agency? The lives of 10 million children all over the Third world could be saved every year by the agency's programme of immunisation, oral rehydration, the encouragement of breast feeding and other improvements.

Mr. Raison

I do not accept that a contribution of £6 million to UNICEF is poor. I have great admiration for its work, but, as the hon. Gentleman well knows, if we perpetually increase our multilateral contribution, that leaves less and less for our bilateral programme—which again is valuable.

Sir Kenneth Lewis

Does——

Mr. Barnett

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

Order. That point would be better made when I have called subsequent speakers.

Sir Kenneth Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that UNICEF is a valuable fund that is well run? The Government do well to contribute £6 million. However, could he not, with some profit, give some of the overseas aid money to that fund, especially as in many parts of the world the problem of children being underfed because of drought needs a great deal of attention?

Mr. Raison

As I have said, UNICEF is an admirable organisation. I have great respect for its work. If I take money from the remainder of the overseas fund for our bilateral contributions I should take away from other work that is also of great value. I certainly do not think that our programme of aid is in any way poor.