Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the assignments given to management consultants on the overseas aid budget in the last two years, identifying for each the consultant or consulting practice, the subject of the assignment and the cost.
Mr. RaisonI list as follows the relevant contracts for the last two years. The cost of individual assignments under British technical co-operation arrangements is not normally notified to the recipient Government, but the listed contracts involved financial commitments ranging from £6,250 to £351,000.
Mr. RaisonExchanges take place from time to time with our European and United States colleagues about matters of common interest in the aid field. Aid to Ethiopia is one on which various views are held and I do not think it would be productive to seek a common policy.