§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what applications have been received for Overseas Development Aid funds to be spent as research into consumer aspects of family planning services in less developed countries; which have been refused and which given; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil MartenIn accordance with the recommendations of the international conference on family planning in the 1980s, Her Majesty's Government believe that it is important to tailor family planning services and programmes and the contraceptive methods they offer to the needs and preferences of the people who use them. We are therefore prepared to support research into the consumer aspects of family planning services under the aid programme.
Since 1978 we have received three applications in this sector. The following two have been approved:
- (i) Assessment of local participation techniques in the provision of fertility regulating services—Institute of Population Studies, Exeter University.
- (ii) Construction, validation and application of a new pictorial method of assessing the reporting attitudes to children and family size in developing countries—Mr. Liggett, University College, Cardiff.
We are currently considering a further proposal from the Institute of Population Studies on the assessment of community participation in family planning services in East Africa.