§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the increase in the budget for military aid to overseas countries from 1988–89 to 1989–90, set out in table 2.1 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989," volume two.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe funds in question are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The reasons for the increase in the budget for military aid to overseas countries from 1988–89 to 1989–90 are:
- a. the uplift of the 1988–89 provision to cover the effect of inflation; and
- b. an increase in the assistance provided by Her Majesty's Government to the front line states in Africa for the purchase of non-lethal military equipment in support of agreed military training programmes.