§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister when the United Kingdom first agreed to give official overseas aid equivalent to 0.7 per cent. of annual income; and if he will list the amount in real terms and the percentage for each year since then.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Nations target for official development assistance to developing countries of 0.7 per cent. of GNP was accepted in principle by the British Government in 1974, although no date was set for meeting it. The United Kingdom has provided net official development assistance since then as follows:
Year Net official development assistance £ million (1989 prices) Official development assistance as percentage of GNP 1974 1,348 0.36 1975 1,395 0.38 1976 1,469 0.39 1977 1,679 0.44 1978 1,803 0.45 1979 2,100 0.51 1980 1,378 0.34 1981 1,678 0.42 1982 1,483 0.37 1983 1,457 0.35 1984 1,402 0.33 1985 1,479 0.33 1986 1,430 0.31 1987 1,331 0.28 1988 1,591 0.32 1989 1,578 0.31