§ Mr. Scottasked the Lord Privy Seal who represented the United Kingdom at the recent annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of this meeting.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe United Kingdom was represented by our alternate governor for the bank, Mr. J. L. F. Buist—under secretary—supported by another official from my Department and one from the Bank of England.
The meeting reviewed the bank's activities over the last year and took note of a report on the status of the bank's resources. This indicated that consideration was being given to an increase in the bank's capital stock and to a replenishment of the concessional Asian development fund, and that there would be discussions on these questions over the coming months.
§ Mr. Scottasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied by the amount of business obtained by British firms from projects supported by the Asian Development Bank, 149W proportionate to the scale of British participation in the bank; and how this proportion compares with that so obtained from other multilateral funds to which this country contributes.
§ Mr. Neil MartenYes. Since it was set up, British firms have regularly obtained orders worth more than double our total payments to the Asian Development Bank and its concessional funds. This was again so in 1980.
This proportion compares satisfactorily with that obtained from other similar institutions of which the United Kingdom is a member.