§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.
§ Mr. Neil MartenDuring the International Year of the Child we increased our contribution to UNICEF by £1.5 million and subscribed £150,000 towards the cost of the international secretariat set up to handle arrangements for the Year. We provided £40,000 towards the cost of a conference in London organised by the Institute of Child Health as part of a programme to encourage school children in developing countries to concern themselves with the health and welfare of younger children. As a follow-up, £115,000 is being made available over a period of three years to implement ideas from the conference. We provided £90,000 towards two projects sponsored by the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child. One project, in Nepal, was co-financed by Oxfam and Christian Aid; the other, in Swaziland and Lesotho, by the Save the Children Fund. We shall continue to support these and similar projects in 1980.