§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Minister of Overseas Development if, further to the information which she gave to the House on 28th March last, she will report on the agreement to replenish the resources of the International Development Association.
§ Mrs. HartThe text of the report of the Executive Directors to the Board of Governors of the Association, dated 29th March 1977, and of the draft resolution of the Governors which, if adopted, would give effect to the replenishment, will be published as a Command Paper 603W shortly. The United Kingdom Governor has voted in favour of the resolution.
Under arrangements for additional contributions to make up the unallocated balance shown in table II of the report we have offered a further contribution of the sterling equivalent of $1,500,000. This will bring the total United Kingdom contribution to the fifth replenishment of the International Development Association to $815,800,000, which at the applicable exchange rate is £474,771,576.54.
Because of the legislative procedures in some donor countries it is unlikely that the replenishment will become effective until later in the year. The United Kingdom has, therefore, joined with other member countries in a collective undertaking to provide the Association with authority to continue to commit funds between 30th June 1977, when its present authority expires, and the coming into effect of the replenishment. These arrangements are described in a memorandum of the President of the Association dated 2nd March 1977, to which is attached a draft resolution which was adopted on 22nd March; these will be published as a Command Paper shortly.
Pending publication by HMSO of the Command Papers referred to above, copies of the relevant texts have been made available to the House. Draft orders under the Overseas Aid Act 1968, authorising the United Kingdom's contributions, have been laid for the approval of the House.