§ Sir Nicholas Bonsorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of the aid programme to Burma and indicate whether all or part of this aid is by cash payment.
§ Mr. Neil MartenUnited Kingdom aid to Burma amounted to about £3 million in 1981–82 and is expected to be about the same level in 1982–83.
The programme now largely consists of capital aid provided under the aid trade provision. The volume of aid disbursed under this heading varies considerably from year to year, being dependent on applications by exporting firms for ATP support submitted to, and supported by, the Department of Trade.
In addition, the United Kingdom programme of technical co-operation costs about £0.5 million annually; its main functions are to finance training in the United Kingdom for Burmese Government employees and to provide specialist advice in the field in such areas as medicine, fisheries research and English language training. None of this aid is by cash payment.