§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give additional financial support for Oxfam's overseas development work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn 1986–87 the Government channelled almost £2 million through Oxfam for disaster relief and assistance to refugees; and we provided a grant of £1,724,250 for Oxfam under the joint funding scheme for long-term development work. The needs of disaster and refugee work vary from year to year and cannot be forecast. Support for Oxfam under the joint funding scheme has been increased to £1,925,000 in the current financial year. The resources available for the scheme as a whole have been more than doubled in the last four years, and we shall keep under review the possibility of providing further increases, for Oxfam as well as all the other agencies concerned, in the future.