§ Mr. Pavittasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of the total aid given 365W to India in each of the last three years which the Indian Government designated for use in rural and village development.
§ Mr. LuceThe figures are 8 per cent. for 1978–79, 12 per cent. for 1979–80 and 10 per cent. for 1980–81. We also provide support for projects which will indirectly promote rural development, such as fertiliser plants and a foot and mouth disease vaccine plant.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Lord Privy Seal why the aid originally proposed for India for the year 1979–80 of £140.5 million was reduced to £114 million; whether this has any effect upon orders placed by the Indian Government with British manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceAll internal planning figures for aid expenditure are monitored and reviewed in the light of the pattern of drawings made on the aid programme in relation to the resources available. The amount spent on India from the aid programme in 1979–80 was £123 million. Since 1979–80 substantial amounts of aid have been made available to India and large orders have been placed to the benefit of British industry.