HL Deb 22 December 1964 vol 262 cc794-6WA
LORD BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state the total advances and subventions paid to emergent countries (with the Commonwealth) during the present financial year; also what particular Parliamentary sanction is needed, or to be sought, for any further such commitments presently under consideration and the total of such amount, if any.

LORD TAYLOR

The following table shows the disbursements on overseas aid made to developing countries in the Commonwealth and elsewhere from United Kingdom Government funds during the present financial year up to September 30. The figures for grants and multilateral aid include technical assistance but exclude expenditure on educational and training activities by the British Council.

£Million
— Total Overseas Aid Bilateral Aid Multilateral Aid
Grants Loans
April-September, 1964–65 90.7 36.1 42.1 12.5

With regard to the second part of the Question, the Appropriation Act 1964 constituted the necessary Parliamentary authority for disbursements expected to be made in the current financial year at the time that the Annual Estimates were prepared. Supplementary Estimates were presented to Parliament in July and November, 1964, on the following Votes:—

  • Foreign Grants and Loans,
  • Commonwealth Grants and Loans,
  • Colonial Grants and Loans,
  • Department of Technical Co-operation.

Further commitments are under consideration, and Parliamentary sanction will be sought in the usual way in Annual or Supplementary Estimates. Until consideration has been completed it is not possible to forecast what additional expenditure may be involved.

House adjourned at twenty minutes before seven o'clock.