Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation

HC Deb 23 January 1981 vol 997 cc256-7W

Mr. Guy Barnett

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the grants made to the Commonwealth fund for technical co-operation for the current year, for the previous five years and the projected figure for next year.

Mr. Hurd

We have traditionally aimed to cover 30 per cent. of net annual expenditure, though shortfalls in receipts from other donors resulted in our providing nearly 40 per cent. in 1979–80. For the fund's current year, 1 July 1980–30 June 1981, we have pledged a minimum of £3 million and up to £3.36 million, together with a separate contribution of £180,000 for the fund's newly established industrial development unit—IDU.

Our contributions for the five previous years were:

	£
1975–76	1,332,161
1976–77	1,800,000
1977–78	3,000,000
1978–79	3,600,000
1979–80	*3,750,000
* Plus £36,000 for the IDU.

As the fund's proposed plan of expenditure for 1981–82 has not yet been tabled, it is not possible to indicate our likely contribution for next year.