§ 60. Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the overseas aid budget goes to Commonwealth countries in Asia; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Timothy Raison)In 1983 some £187 million, amounting to 32 per cent. of British bilateral aid, went to Commonwealth countries in Asia. Over that period £125 million, or some 30 per cent., of our multilateral aid contributions went to the same countries.
§ Mr. ProctorDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the real shortage in those countries is of entrepreneurs? What part does the aid budget play in the creation of more entrepreneurs in those countries?
§ Mr. RaisonI do not think that it is as true of the Asian countries as it is of the African countries that there is a grave shortage of entrepreneurs. On the other hand, in one way or another, the aid programme provides scope for entrepreneurs, and we stress the importance of countries reducing their excessive overdependence on parastatals, which characterises so many of them at present.