§ Mr. Formanasked the Lord Privy Seal what was the outcome of the recent annual governing council meeting of the International Fund for Agriculture Development; and what obligations the United Kingdom has accepted as a result.
§ Mr Neil MartenI am glad to say that the Council reached two important decisions. First, it ratified arrangements negotiated for the replenishment of its resources to cover its lending programme to the end of 1983. Under these arrangements, OECD donors will contribute $620 million and OPEC donors $450 million respectively. The United Kingdom's share, for which I shall seek parliamentary approval as early as possible, will be £12, 901, 000. The Council also decided that the fund's permanent seat should be in Rome, where it has been established only provisionally during its first four years.