§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will encourage third-world Governments and institutions in the establishment of banks similar to the Grameen bank in Bangladesh;
(2) if he will consider giving financial assistance to the Grameen bank in Bangladesh; and what assessment he has made of the work of the Grameen bank.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Overseas Development Administration endorses the objectives of the Grameen bank in its work with the poor in Bangladesh. We have not been asked for financial support. If requested, help to establish similar credit institutions in other countries would be candidates for consideration from our bilateral aid programme on a case-by-case basis.