§ LORD BARNBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Up to what amount it is to be understood grants of Overseas Aid lie at the sole discretion of the Minister without specific reference to Parliament.
§ LORD GORONWY-ROBERTSEstimates of expenditure on overseas aid are presented to the House of Commons together with other Supply Estimates.
Under a procedure agreed by the Estimates Committee in its Fifth Report, Session 1966–67 (H.C. 257, pages viii-ix), supply for Section E (Unallocated loans and grants) of Class II, 7 is Voted in the Main Estimates for allocation during the course of the financial year without specific limits on individual items but subject to agreement with Her Majesty's Treasury. Disbursements against this Section are notified in detail in the Spring Supplementary Estimates, and again in the Appropriation Account.