§ 39. Mr. Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest famine reports from the sub-Sahara.
§ Mr. RaisonThe situation in Africa continues to be serious, although substantial progress in the provision of food has been made. For the financial year 1985–86 we have pledged in advance a minimum bilateral allocation of £30 million for drought victims, refugees or others suffering from disaster in Africa.
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§ 46. Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if United Kingdom aid in parallel to the World Bank special fund for sub-Saharan Africa will be untied.
§ Mr. RaisonYes.
§ Mr. McWilliamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on why Her Majesty's Government will not contribute directly to the World Bank's special facility for sub-Saharan Africa.
§ Mr. RaisonWe could only make a direct contribution to the special facility at the expense of our future bilateral aid programmes, including programmes to African countries. The Government preferred to make some of our bilateral aid available in close support of the special facility and subject to the same World Bank conditionality. This arrangement has been accepted by the World Bank as constituting "special joint financing" in support of the facility. The offers of the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan and Switzerland have been similarly designated.