HC Deb 13 February 1989 vol 147 c20
74. Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current progress in negotiations for the replenishment of the International Development Association.

Mr. Patten

Negotiations will start in Washington later this month. We hope that they will be successfully concluded by the autumn.

Mr. Welsh

I wish the Minister all success in the negotiations and hope that they are successful for the association. Is the Minister aware that, in 1979, we contributed 10 per cent. of this fund and that, in the early 1980s, we reduced that contribution to 6.7 per cent. because we had a weak economy? Now, the Chancellor of the Exchequer says that the economy is the strongest it has ever been. Does the Minister agree with the Chancellor? If so, will he renegotiate a 10 per cent. contribution in the next round of negotiations?

Mr. Patten

Of course I agree with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the strength of the economy. I also agree with what he told the IMF-World Bank development committee recently. He said that we believe a substantial replenishment is justified to maintain the Bank's concessional lending to its very poorest members, especially in Africa". I strongly agree with my right hon. Friend. We shall certainly play our traditional part in accomplishing such a replenishment.