§ 47. Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any representations about his Department's support for charities overseas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI regularly meet representatives of many of the British non-governmental organisations. My Department has a productive relationship with them; and they play a distinct and valuable role in developing countries.
I have increased substantially the money allocated for jointly funded development projects and for British volunteers overseas. In 1987–88 aid expenditure of all kinds through British non-governmental organisations exceeded £42 million.