§ Sir Charles MorrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department took to mark World Population Day on 11 July; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI gave a speech on the Overseas Development Administration's population policy at a meeting on 11 July organised by the all-party parliamentary group on population and development, to mark World Population Day. In it I emphasised the increasing assistance that we are giving to population programmes in developing countries, and our plans to do even more.
In August I announced a new ODA initiative, "Children by Choice not Chance", which included proposals for further assistance to strengthen reproductive health services, improve the availability of contraceptive supplies, and enable women to take greater control over their lives in eight identified priority countries. We are now identifying the best opportunities to take these proposals forward.