HC Deb 22 January 1992 vol 202 cc231-2W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets the Government agreed to meet in the programme of action for the least-developed countries; and what progress has been made in achieving them.

Mrs. Chalker

In the programme of action adopted by the United Nations conference on the least-developed countries in September 1990, no single new target was established for official development assistance to least-developed countries, as a percentage of GNP. The United Kingdom, along with several other donors, undertook to make best efforts to reach the existing United Nations target of 0.15 per cent. Data required to measure progress since the conference are not yet available

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Government's aid programme has been altered in light of the agreements reached at the second United Nations conference on the least-developed countries in 1990.

Mrs. Chalker

As a signatory to the declaration and programme of action agreed at the United Nations conference on the least-developed countries, in September 1990, we have taken full account of the elements of the programme of action in our strategy for British aid. The emphasis placed in the programme on sound economic policies, environment, population, education and training particularly reflects our own thinking. Specific British initiatives on aid tying and local costs were announced at the conference, both of direct benefit to the least developed, and these have been put into effect.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the percentage of aid allocated to the least-developed countries as a percentge of gross national product between 1981 and the latest available figures.

Mrs. Chalker

United Kingdom aid to the least-developed countries from 1981 onwards, as a percentage of GNP, were as follows, OECD figures except 1985:

Year Percentage
1981 0.12
1982 0.11
1983 0.10
1984 0.09
1985 10.11
1986 0.08
1987 0.09
1988 0.10
1989 20.09
1990 3—
1 estimate
2 revised
3 Not yet available

Mrs Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relative priority of the elements of the programme of action for the least-developed countries in enabling the least-developed countries alleviate poverty and promote development.

Mrs. Chalker

The basic principles of the programme of action, agreed at the second United Nations conference on the least-developed countries, made it clear that the relative priority to be given to the elements of the action programme depend on the individual characteristics of each country, and the needs of their populations.