§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will provide development assistance to Nicaragua ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil MartenI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 18 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 365–66.] Britain is providing major help to Nicaragua through multilateral organisations, principally the European Community, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Inter-American Development Bank. The shares met from the British aid programme since mid-1979 have now risen to over £3 million of which European Community aid accounts for just over £2 million. There is every likelihood that these and other multilateral organisations in which Britain participates will contribute also to Nicaragua's development once the rehabilitation stage has been completed.
At a time when we are having to cut public expenditure we cannot afford to start a continuing programme of bilateral aid as well ; but we expect to spend a 599W little more than £100,000 in the current financial year on various short-term projects for Nicaragua.