§ 39. Miss Boothroydasked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress was made at the recent meeting of the Development Council in Luxembourg on aid to non-associates.
§ Mrs. HartThe Council agreed on a regulation to govern aid to non-associates, subject to conciliation proceedings with the European Assembly. Aid is to go in general to the poorest countries, and their poorest people, with priority for rural development and improving food production. This is of course very much in accord with United Kingdom aid policy.
324WThe Council also agreed on general guidelines for the 1978 programme for non-associates; and agreed in principle to contribute 31,000 tonnes of dried skimmed milk and 12,700 tonnes of butter oil this year to help develop the dairy industry in India under Operation Flood II.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the recent meeting of the EEC Development Council in Luxembourg.
§ Mrs. HartThe main outcome was the decisions concerning aid to non-associates outlined in my earlier reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd). There was also a general exchange of views on the volume and distribution of aid.