§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine the current level of aid to(a) Costa Rica and (b) Nicaragua; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the proposal from the European Economic Community for an increase in aid to Nicaragua.
§ Mr. RentonA number of factors are taken into account, including available resources, relative wealth and aid from other donors. In the case of Costa Rica a large part of our bilateral aid is used to support the Central American school of husbandry, a regional institution. There is no European Community proposal for an increase in aid to Nicaragua. We support an increase in Community aid to Central America as a whole. Detailed proposals are now being considered.