§ Mr. Dunnachieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what was the total United Kingdom overseas aid budget for the last financial year as a percentage of United Kingdom gross national product;
(2) if he will list the total percentage of United Kingdom gross national product given as overseas aid in comparison with similar percentages of the member nations of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. EggarThe percentages of gross national product given in 1986 as net official development assistance by European Community states which are members of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development were:
219W
Percentage Belgium 0.48 Denmark 0.89 France (excluding overseas departments and territories) 0.49 Germany 0.43 Ireland 0.28 Italy 0.40 Netherlands 1.00 United Kingdom 0.32 Details of other European Community member states are not available for 1986.
§ Mr. Dunnachieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total overseas aid budget given by Her Majesty's Government to (a) Bangladesh, (b) Pakistan and (c) Sri Lanka in the last financial year; and what proportion of this aid comprised loans to be paid back to Her Majesty's Government with interest.
§ Mr. EggarFirm figures for gross public expenditure on aid in the last financial year are not yet available by country. In the calendar year 1986, gross public expenditure on aid to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka was as follows, excluding transactions by the Commonwealth Development Corporation:
£ million Bangladesh 38.3 Pakistan 20.7 Sri Lanka 13.4 None of these disbursements was in respect of an interest-bearing loan. Since 1975 the standard form of aid to these countries has been grant. In addition, the Commonwealth Development Corporation disbursed £2 million to Sir Lanka in 1986 in loan form.