Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what scale and from what sources South Africa received economic or cultural aid from the United Kingdom in 1985, and whether urgent thought is now being given, with our allies, to aid on a far larger scale as a counter to apartheid, negotiations to end it having failed.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)In 1985 Her Majesty's Government made available almost £1 million, mainly in the fields of education and training for non-white South Africans. In addition British non-government organisations provided assistance although precise figures are not readily available.
My right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced in another place on 1st July that an additional £15 million would be made available over five years from 1987/88 for a set of positive measures for Southern Africa. £12 million of this sum will be used for the direct benefit of non-white South Africans on undergraduate training in Britain and on other activities in the educational and social field in South Africa.
In addition the Government are providing £0.5 million a year from 1986–87 for a new postgraduate scheme for non-white South Africans agreed at the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Nassau. The European Community has also launched a programme of educational and social action within South Africa to help the non-white population. An allocation of 10 million ecu (approximately £6.6 million) is being committed in 1986, of which our share amounts to approximately £1.3 million. We are playing an active part in planning this programme. The 1987 draft EC budget provides for similar commitments of 15 million ecu (£10.3 million).