Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution United Kingdom aid makes to telecommunications projects; and if he will review policy in the light of the report of the Independent Commission for Worldwide Telecommunications Development.
§ Mr. RaisonPrecise figures of aid to telecommunications are not available, but during the period 1978 to 1982 £30.8 million in capital aid was provided for the whole field of communications. Aid funds are also used for technical cooperation and training scholarships in telecommunications and for the United Kingdom's share of multilateral aid, a portion of which goes to telecommunications.
The Overseas Development Administration is always ready to consider requests from aid recipient countries for assistance in telecommunications. The Government are examining the report of the Independent Commission for Worldwide Telecommunications Development.