§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to confine, or to limit severely, United Kingdom aid to countries which are democracies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThe nature of the system of government in the recipient country is one of the factors taken into account when considering the distribution of bilateral aid. We, of course, regard genuine democracy as a positive factor, but other factors are also relevant, and neither the present nor previous Administrations have confined aid to countries with a fully democratic Government.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the countries receiving United Kingdom aid are democracies; and if he will specify the criteria used to define an aid recipient as democratic.
§ Mr. RaisonThere are many variations in the democratic system and any classification would be to some