§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom accepted the United Nations official aid target; and when the Government expect to meet that target.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe accepted the 0.7 per cent. target in principle in 1974. Successive Governments have declined to set down a timetable for meeting the target. The levels of aid depend upon our economic circumstances and on other calls on public resources. The aid programme has grown by 10 per cent. in real terms since 1987–88 and is planned to continue to do so. It is of high quality, well targeted and effective.