§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross 2W domestic product was represented by the overseas aid budget in each of the years 1978 to 1986, inclusive; and what he expects it to be in the next three years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenNet public expenditure on overseas aid as defined in British Aid Statistics, copies of which are in the Library of the House, as a percentage of GDP in 1978–85 was as follows:
Percentage 1978 0.42 1979 0.44 1980 0.37 1981 0.42 1982 0.36 1983 0.36 1984 0.37 1985 0.34 Figures are not yet available for 1986. It is not Government policy to forecast what the percentage is likely to be in future years.