HC Deb 16 November 1992 vol 214 c16
38. Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of overseas aid is used for the procurement overseas of British goods and services.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The proportion of bilateral aid commitments tied to British goods and services was 76 per cent. in 1989, 79 per cent. in 1990 and 74 per cent. in 1991.

Mr. Fabricant

Do British manufacturers derive any export benefit from multilateral aid—aid given through the European Commission or, indeed, through agencies of the United Nations?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly. I have just given the overall percentage for bilateral aid; a total of £934 million helped British industry in 1991. We reckon that, over the seven years between 1982 and 1989, every £1 contributed to multilateral aid produced £1.40 for British goods and services.

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