§ Mr. Blakerasked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total forward commitment of United Kingdom overseas aid, on a year-by-year basis; and what amounts are involved in each of the bilateral or multilateral commitments which make up its total.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe aid programme is not managed on a commitment basis, but on the basis of forecast disbursements under known and expected commitments. It has never been the practice to publish the detailed forecasts, which can be misleading. But my present expectation is that in 1978–79 bilateral disbursements will total some £500 million, and multilateral some £250 million, and that the proportions over the next few years will remain much the same.