HC Deb 10 March 1986 vol 93 cc325-6W
Mr. Dorrell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the expenditure from the overseas aid budget on population and family planning-related research projects from the health and population division's population research and development Vote for each of the years 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Mr. Raison

Expenditure amounted to £155,000 in 1983 and £270,000 in 1984. The final figure for 1985 is not yet available.

Mr. Dorrell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research projects related to population and family planning are currently being supported by the Overseas Development Administration.

Mr. Raison

A study on contraception usage in rural areas of Egypt; a study on attitudes towards child health and relationships to mortality in India; programme to test and develop materials on contraceptive methods for African countries; preparation of instructional materials for non-literate users of contraceptive foam in Pakistan; an analysis of the relationships between demographic variables and socio-economic development in Kenya.

Mr. Dorrell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for funding for family planning and population research projects have been received since March 1984 and from whom; which of these were accepted; how much funding was committed irrespective of the year of disbursement; which were rejected; and for what reason.

Mr. Raison

Nine applications for funding for family planning and population research projects have been received since March 1984. Three have been accepted: from the Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology (PIACT)—£19,000; from the Centre for Population Studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine—£22,800; and from Cardiff University College Population Centre—6,000. Five proposals are currently under consideration. They have been submitted by the Cardiff University College Population Centre; the University of Edinburgh; the International Planned Parenthood Federation; the Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology; and the Population and Community Development Association of Thailand. One proposal, from an individual researcher, was rejected on technical grounds.