§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current level of overseas aid in the light of the annual report of the Overseas Development Administration.
§ Mr. RaisonThe gross aid programme for the current financial year, 1984–85, is £1,174 million compared with the latest estimate of expenditure for the last financial year, 1983–84, of £1,095 million. This represents an increase of 7.2 per cent. in cash terms which is in excess of the expected rate of inflation. In addition to our multilateral contributions, nearly all our bilateral aid is given in the form of grants.