HC Deb 26 April 1991 vol 189 c576W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Prime Minister how much extra would be needed each year for the United Kingdom to meet its United Nations target on overseas aid over the next five years.

The Prime Minister

Under the public expenditure survey system, plans for expenditure on the aid programme have only been made up to 1993–94. Forecasts for nominal gross national product are available only to 1994–95. However, on present trends, to reach the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP spent on official development assistance would require a total aid programme of some £5.2 billion in 1995–96, £3.3 billion greater than the presently planned aid programme for 1993–94.