§ 6. Mr. Burtasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to the United Nations Special Session on Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI was glad to be able to attend the United Nations Special Session on Africa. Her Majesty's Government greatly welcome its positive outcome. The final resolution, adopted by consesus, represents a commitment by all concerned to work together for sustained economic development based on realistic policies.
§ Mr. BurtI thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that statement. May I offer him the pleasant duty, I hope, of sharing with the House the general satisfaction with the award given yesterday to Mr. Bob Geldof?
Can my right hon. and learned Friend reassure the nation that the patient and generous work carried out by this country over many years on overseas development will continue, whether or not the public conscience has been stirred, with the general aim of improving the conditions of life for all Africans?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI am glad to acknowledge the importance of both the points made by my hon. Friend and to commend the fact that the total British aid going to Africa through bilateral and multilateral channels has increased from £447 million in 1982 to about £570 million in 1985. That is in addition to the substantial measures taken by way of cancellation of aid debts and support for the International Development Agency programme.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect is the extent to which the report approved by the General Assembly last week stresses so strongly the acknowledgement by the African Governments of the importance of the positive role of the private sector in the development of Africa.
Mr. Cambell-SavoursWhat is the Foreign Secretary's response to the comments of Sir Robert Geldof, who described the right hon. and learned Gentleman's speech at the United Nations illustrating Britain's position on help for those in need in Africa as a lot of old crap?—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I know that Mr. Geldof said that, but it is not a very elegant word to use in this Chamber.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI regard the use of such language by Mr. Geldof as unhelpful, just as it is even more unhelpful on the part of the hon. Gentleman. It is only one aspect of the character of Mr. Geldof that has made him widely admired around the world for the part that he has played.
§ Mr. WilkinsonHas my right hon. and learned Friend had contacts with Mr. Bradford Morse, the head of the Special Programme for Africa in the United Nations, or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about the large influx of refugees into Somalia owing to the intolerable programme by the Ethiopian authorities of corralling people into special villages?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThat is one of the matters that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has constantly in mind in the contacts that he has in that area.