§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much overseas aid this year is being specifically directed towards ending child starvation and hunger in the Third world; what were the corresponding figures for each of the past three years; and if he will increase this figure for the next financial year.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIt is not practicable to separate expenditure directed towards ending child starvation and hunger from that designed to benefit the poor of the Third world generally. The object of the British aid programe is to promote sustainable economic development and to alleviate poverty. In 1987 over 80 per cent. of the bilateral aid programme went to the poorer countries—those with annual incomes per head of less than $800—where the incidence of hunger and malnutrition is greatest.
Her Majesty's Government's contributions to key organisations with a specific remit for children and with programmes concerned with child nutrition include the following:
(2) whether it is her intention to publish any of the technology assessment reports carried out by the technology assessment unit of the Cabinet Office;
(3) whether the technology assessment unit of the Cabinet Office has been asked to undertake an assessment of the scientific validity of the Commission of the European Community's decision to ban the import of beef produced from cattle which have been fed with hormones.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Cabinet Office's science and technology assessment office does not itself undertake assessments of this kind. As explained in the Government response to the first report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1986–87 Session (Cm. 185), its role is to encourage the adoption of sound assessment systems by Government Departments and other bodies concerned with publicly funded research and development.