§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord BARNBYMy 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, with regard to published total annual overseas aid for the last three years—
- (a)what is now the policy with regard to diminishing the totals of untied aid, and
- (b)what is the current yardstick of measurement for determining future allocations of aid.
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, there is no specific policy to diminish untied aid. There is also no simple formula for allocating aid, because the changing needs of the developing countries require a flexible policy. Our priorities are to meet the reasonable needs of our Dependent Territories; to give assistance to the poorest countries; to help the poorest sections of the community in those countries; and to further rural development and food production.
§ Lord BARNBYMy Lords, may I say that that Answer was helpful in parts and disappointing in others. Would the noble Baroness not agree that as regards financial reliability the poorer countries must be the worst risk, and that this would therefore be a greater reason for transferring more of the aid from being untied to tied, in the hope that this would lead eventually to banking supervision? With regard to the first part of the Answer given by the noble Baroness, surely the uncertainty and instability that exists in Africa is, anyhow, a reason for reviewing downwards the allocations of aid?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, in answer to the first part of the supplementary question put by the noble Lord, aid is allocated according to need in the first place, but wider British interests always come into it. As regards instability, I should have thought that where instability exists more aid is even more necessary.
§ Lord BLYTONMy Lords, would my noble friend not agree with me in the hope that this country will not become so uncharitable that it will not help the poorer nations?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, as always, I entirely agree with my noble friend.