§ 69. Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding aid to sub-Saharan Africa.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI have frequent discussions with representatives of sub-Saharan African countries. It is the subject of a large proportion of my mail bag.
§ Mr. YeoDespite the fact that Japan has significantly increased its aid budget, does my hon. Friend share my view that not enough Japanese aid goes to sub-Saharan Africa?
§ Mr. PattenAs my hon. Friend says, the Japanese Government have made a welcome increase in their aid programme, a point that Mr. Takeshita made during his visit the other day to the United Kingdom. I think that Japan would like to do more in Africa and I intend, I hope later this year, to go and talk to the Japanese Government about how we can, perhaps, do more with them in sub-Saharan Africa. For example, I should like the Japanese Government to put some of their funds through British non-governmental organisations such as the Save the Children Fund and Oxfam.