HC Deb 31 July 1978 vol 955 c4W
Mr. David Young

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans the Government intend to make for remitting interest-free loans to underdeveloped countries; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs. Hart

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on retrospective terms adjustment which I made today in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Carshalton (Mr. Forman), Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley), Newham, South (Mr. Spearing), Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler) and Belper (Mr. MacFarquhar).

Mr. David Young

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her estimate of the number of jobs in the United Kingdom that are maintained by project aid to underdeveloped countries financed by her Department.

Mrs. Hart

Accurate estimates cannot be made, but calculations suggest that tied project aid maintained some 21,700 jobs in 1977. Other bilateral aid, particularly programme aid, and our share of procurement under multilateral aid, may have more than doubled this figure.