§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken on the recommendations of the 1984 report of the World Bank on population.
§ Mr. RaisonThe main conclusions of the World Development report 1984 are consistent with the view of successive British Governments that population programmes are an important element in the development process.
The report calls for substantial increase in population spending in order to reduce global fertility rates. We have recognised the needs in this sector and announced that, subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to increase our contributions to multilateral population organisations by £1.45 million in 1985.