§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for Overseas Development why it is not her practice to identify the main components of forward expenditure commitments under the aid budget; and to whom, outside Her Majesty's Government, those commitments are in fact known.
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§ Mr. Tomlinson:Our pledges of financial aid, both bilateral and multilateral, are made known to Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Details of estimated expenditure in the coming financial year are published in the Supply Estimates. It is not our practice to give details of expenditure plans for subsequent years, since these forecasts depend on intentions and assumptions which may not in the event be realised.