HL Deb 26 July 1972 vol 333 cc1349-50
LORD COLERAINE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper:

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can give for the latest year of record the visible trade balance between the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries in Africa, together with the amount given to those countries in bilateral aid ; and whether they can give the same figures for trade and aid between the United Kingdom and other countries in Africa.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, for the calendar year 1971 the visible trade balance between the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries in Africa was approximately £24 million in our favour, and the gross amount of bilateral aid given to Commonwealth countries in Africa was £64.9 million or £50.2 million net of repayments. For the same period for non-Commonwealth countries in Africa, the figures are approximately £19 million trade balance and £3 million aid, or £1.9 million net of repayments.

LORD COLERAINE

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether the figure of the favourable trade balance of £24 million includes any bilateral aid or whether it is purely commercial exports?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

No, my Lords ; that is the first figure, which is entirely commercial.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether the amount of aid does not include private investment on which profit and dividend are paid? And is it not the case that the accumulated payment in dividend and profit is greater than the total amount of our aid?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, as this concerns all countries in Africa, I should need to have notice in detail of that question.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness when the Government estimate that they intend to fulfil the present target of Government aid and whether it is separate from private investment?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, we have never accepted the 0.7 per cent. of official aid as part of the 1 per cent., but, as the noble Baroness knows, we have reached the 1 per cent. target of flows in the last three years.

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