§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held about the proportion of(a) the Commonwealth Fund for technical co-operation and (b) other Commonwealth activity financed by the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [41807]
§ Clare ShortThe Government are a strong supporter of the Commonwealth, contributing an annual total of some £18 million from the aid programme to a wide range of Commonwealth development programmes, including the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation. We are the largest contributor to these programmes traditionally providing 30 per cent. of all contributions. In addition, we pledged an extra £4 million at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for Commonwealth Secretariat programmes.