HL Deb 05 July 1973 vol 344 cc380-2
LORD BARNBY

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, in the matter of Overseas Aid to former Commonwealth countries for which on the grant of independence constitutional government was envisaged, they will henceforth consider confining grants to such countries as are complying with this anticipation.

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

No, my Lords. The provision of aid at the time of independence cannot be made conditional on the continuation of particular constitutional arrangements.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, since the granting of independence was understood to be on condition that government such as we favour in this country was followed, and since we are believers in Western-type constitutional government, may I ask the Minister whether or not some action of this character would make a substantial contribution towards the reinstatement of the type of government contemplated at the start, and which would be of such benefit to those countries?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, it is quite true that on a country gaining independence we do agree a certain constitution with it, but once a country is entirely independent, it is firmly up to that country and its citizens to decide on some other form of government if they so wish.

LORD GREENWOOD OF ROSSENDALE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for her reply, would she not agree that aid must be a continuing and planned process and cannot be switched on and off according to the political complexion of the recipients?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, we try very hard to have a continuing aid programme; but there are occasions, rare I am glad to say, when it is necessary to stop aid, such as the recent example in Uganda.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, since the terms of trade are going against us and the pound is falling, with adverse effect on the cost of food, would not something of a reduction of some £240 million a year—I repeat, £240 million—which I understand we are to disburse this year, even if it is only a tiny portion, make a contribution to the balance of payments and, following that, some possible mitiga tion in the cost of importing food and therefore its cost in this country?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, the aid which we give to Commonwealth and other countries overseas is designed to help them in their development; and in so far as it helps them, it also helps our own balance of payments because we are then able to import food for our own citizens at a reasonable price if we have a stable market.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while welcoming the answers of the noble Baroness, do we not need to regard this matter in a rather historical perspective? During the period when European Governments passed from empire to national status was there not, far more persecution than there has been in Africa? Have not many of these Governments' views been in favour of private enterprise and financial exploitation, and is not the continuation of aid the way in which to encourage democratic constitutional development in Africa?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I think that both Europe and many other countries overseas have had a turbulent history, but whether by the giving of aid one encourages a particular system of government I do not know. Many Governments have gone to the system of government which suits them from their own historical point of view, but I think the giving of aid is a very important part in the development of the overseas world and in trying to reduce the gap between the developed and the developing countries.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, may I put one last question to the Minister; namely, does she feel sure that the £49 million which we have given to Uganda has helped either us or Uganda?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

Yes, my Lords. I think at the time the aid did help Uganda a great deal, particularly in the technical assistance field. I am only sorry that events did not make it possible for us to renew it.