HC Deb 29 April 1975 vol 891 cc114-5W
Mr. Parry

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) if she will list in the Official Report the voluntary organisations which provide services to developing countries;

(2) what is the estimate of financial aid made by voluntary organisations to developing countries in each of the past five years to the latest available date;

(3) if she is satisfied with the provision of services provided by voluntary organisations to developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs. Hart

The British voluntary organisations which provide services to developing countries are too numerous to be readily collated. However, I can say that my Ministry helps to finance a coordinating committee whose members areThe Catholic Fund for Overseas Development. The Catholic Institute for International Relations. Christian Aid. Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Intermediate Technology Development Group. Justice and Peace Commission. Overseas Development Institute. Oxfam. Save the Children Fund. United Nations Association. Voluntary Service Overseas. War on Want. Welsh International Centre. Estimated disbursements based on sampling, by voluntary organisations to developing countries as reported to the Development Assistance Committee of OECD for the last five available years were:

£ million
1970 14
1971 19
1972 20
1973 23
1974 26*
* provisional estimate

I greatly appreciate the work which the voluntary organisations have carried out —some of them for many years—and I am at present considering in what ways I may help to further it.