§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received 472W from the United Kingdom branch of World University Service concerning return of political refugees to Chile; what response he has made; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. Raison[pursuant to his reply, 23 October 1985, c. 155]: Following is the text of my letter to the hon.
Member:
The World University Service (UK) approached me in 1984, and again in 1985, for financial support to its programme for the voluntary repatriation of Chilean refugees. In 1984 HMG made £75,000 available but we have been unable to offer similar support this year. Aid funds are not unlimited and decisions have to be made between competing claims for assistance. In reaching our decision this year we took account of the substantial support of almost £11 million which we have given in the past to the WUS Chilean Programme principally for training in Britain.