§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Nations' current target figure of gross national product to be allocated to Third world aid; and what percentage of gross national product the United Kingdom's contributions represent.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe UN target for official development assistance (ODA) as a proportion of gross national product (GNP) is 0.7 per cent. In 1987 Britain's net ODA represented 0.28 per cent. of GNP. The aid programme is now growing in real terms. In the current financial year we plan to spend about £1,307 million, some £97 million more than the likely outturn for last year. The programme is planned to rise by some £70 million in 1989–90 and by a further £45 million in 1990–91.