HC Deb 31 March 1988 vol 130 c601W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the change in the total value of Her Majesty's Government's overseas nonmilitary aid between 1979 and 1987 in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chris Patten

Figures for gross public expenditure on overseas aid for 1987 are not yet available. Between 1979 and 1986, expenditure in real terms fell by 16 per cent. In the period since 1982, however, it has been more than maintained and, as the recent public expenditure White Paper made clear, the aid programme is now planned to grow in real terms.