§ 49. Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the aid to Africa is designated for front-line states adjoining South Africa.
§ Mr. RaisonIn 1985, 13 per cent. of gross bilateral aid for African countries was provided to those front-line states adjoining South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
§ Mr. HughesMight not one way of helping the situation in southern Africa be to increase the aid budget to the front-line states, which would then be better able to resist any action by South Africa, should that country feel itself to be under any pressure as a result of policies that the Government may then, we hope, be able to introduce?
§ Mr. RaisonWe have recently, both through the Southern African development co-ordination conference and bilaterally, stepped up our offers of aid to exactly those countries. That aid includes, for example, important transport projects in Mozambique.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonIs it not preposterous of Opposition Members to call for more aid to states that are blackguarding Britain across the world? Will the Government give an assurance that there will be no extra aid granted because of sanctions against South Africa?
§ Mr. RaisonAs I have said, our policy is to try to build up the economies of those countries in the region in order to decrease their dependence on South Africa. I expect that policy to continue.