§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the United Kingdom is now making to the World Bank special fund for sub-Saharan Africa; if such aid is tied to the purchase of British goods; and if the amounts involved are in addition to the figures for his Department in the recent White Paper on public expenditure.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Government have undertaken to earmark, for use in close support of the special facility and its objectives, disbursements of £15 million a year of bilateral aid in each of the five years during which it is expected that the facility will disburse funds.
We are still considering whether in this case we should waive our normal rule under which offshore procurement from bilateral aid is tied to British goods and services.
The money to be earmarked is not in addition to the figures for the ODA in the recent White Paper. In planning our aid programme, however, we always make allowance for sensible new commitments. The important consideration is that the aid should be fully effective.