§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why the British financial contribution to overseas development declined in the year 1963, and what total funds were made available for this purpose from public and private sources respectively.]
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT BLAKENHAM)My Lords, aid to developing countries from British public funds in 1963, as published in the Financial Statistics, was £158 million, as against £150 million in 1962. For the financial year 1963–64 expenditure was £175 million, as against £148 million in 1962–63 and £160 million in 1961–62. These figures do not include the substantial flow of funds to developing countries in the form of British private investment, particulars of which are not yet available for 1963, nor the £24 million of military aid provided in the calendar year 1963. Military aid of £30 million was made available in the financial year 1963–64.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his Answer and for the confirmation of the fact that the flow of aid for overseas has not decreased. Perhaps I should add that the reason for my Question was a statement made not long ago in the Council of Europe Committee that our aid overseas had decreased during the year 1284 1963. Therefore, will the Government make every effort to ensure that our contribution to development overseas is known not only in this country by overseas as well?
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for saying what he has said. I would emphasise that the £175 million of out-turn in 1963–64 was higher than ever before and in fact 16 per cent. above the figure for 1962–63.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, while it is very satisfactory that there has been this increase in 1963–64, as compared with the year before, is it not a fact that the proportion of the British national product given to overseas aid is still less than the proportion given by either France or Western Germany?
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, I would ask my noble relative to give me notice of that question.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, in connection with these figures, would Her Majesty's Government not agree that imports taken by this country from these underdeveloped areas, which are among the largest in the world, are perhaps even a more important factor than the direct development?
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, I think that there is a lot in what my noble friend says.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, could the noble Viscount tell us the division of this sum of £175 million, as between actual grants, loans at preferential rates and loans at commercial rates?
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, I will see whether the noble Lord can have this information, and if it can be conveniently broken down I will write to him about it.