HC Deb 23 October 1985 vol 84 c152W
37. Mr. Bruce

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proportion of overseas trade which is tied to aid.

Mr. Raison

In 1984 about 74 per cent. of the bilateral aid programme, excluding administrative costs and expenditure by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, was tied to the purchase of British goods and services. Contributions to multilateral institutions from Britain and other donor countries are untied thus allowing British firms to bid for all contracts which these institutions finance.