§ Mr. Gerald BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on aid to the tobacco sector.
§ Mrs. ChalkerTobacco remains an important crop and a source of export earnings and budgetary revenue in some developing countries. There is, however, increasing evidence that the health risks associated with tobacco consumption will affect developing countries most severely and place increasing burdens on their health budgets which in most cases are already inadequate.
In these circumstances, the Government have decided that in future the aid programme should not be used for any purpose which identifiably supports the tobacco sector. With immediate effect, no new bilateral commitments will be undertaken. We shall also advocate that multilateral aid agencies to which we contribute should pursue a similar policy. In addition we shall continue to help developing countries reduce their tobacco consumption, and maintain our assistance to farmers dependent on tobacco crops to diversify into alternative activities.
The same policy will apply to our assistance to eastern Europe.