§ 67. Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a 642 statement on progress on the UNICEF global immunisation programme and the United Kingdom contribution to it.
§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Chris Patten)There has been no significant change in the figures I gave my hon. Friend on 24 October, when UNICEF had committed about $302 million to immunisation projects, some 71 per cent. of its estimated requirement. Programmes continue to develop, but the initial spurt in activity has eased off as campaigns are completed and continuing immunisation activities are incorporated in new country programmes.
§ Mr. ChapmanI commend UNICEF's ambitious initiative in making it possible for all children of the world to be immunised against six preventable diseases. I also commend my hon. Friend for making available a record £7.5 million to UNICEF's general resources fund, in addition to the £6 million contribution to the special fund, most of which will go to the immunisation programme. Does my hon. Friend agree that, if money is still needed, the Government will continue to set a fine example which will be admired by every hon. Member and the public in one of the most worthy objectives of all time?
§ Mr. PattenI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest in this subject. Our total contributions to UNICEF have doubled from about £7.5 million in the 1985–86 financial year to over £15 million in the last financial year. We will continue to give UNICEF's work the priority that it deserves. Through our general health programmes, we will also continue to try to focus as much as possible on the development of primary health care facilities in developing countries.