§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any comprehensive survey of British attitudes towards overseas aid and development has been carried out since "Attitudes to Overseas Aid" published by HMSO in 1978; and whether he will make it his policy to commission another such survey.
§ Mrs. ChalkerQuestions on the public's attitude to aid are included in the annual FCO opinion poll. We also receive information from polls conducted by non-government organisations. We will continue to use both these methods to gauge public opinion of the aid programme.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have entered, or been reinstated, in the aid programme since 1979; and why.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSince 1979 the following countries have entered the aid programme:
Central African Republic
Equitorial Guinea
211WGuinea
Recognition of their classification as least-developed countries.China
To support improvements in Sino-British relations, increasing Chinese interests in links with western countries and systems and in recognition of China's place among the world's 50 poorest countries.Comoros
Israel
Mongolia
Sao Tome
Aid limited to minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes to non-governmental or voluntary bodies.Congo
Gabon
English language teaching programmes designed to strengthen British political and commercial links with west Africa.The following countries have been reinstated into the aid programme since 1979:
Cambodia Humanitarian aid.
CubaSurinam
Aid limited to minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes to non-governmental or voluntary bodies.Iran
Iraq
Emergency aid to Iraqi refugees.
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Agriculturalists 9 8 8 8 9 9 9 8 10 Social advisers — — — — — — 1 1 1 Other technical staff 18 20 21 20 20 20 21 20 20 Staff on contract to the ODA funded by the Aid Programme:
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Agriculturalists n/a n/a 136 161 137 183 188 184 154 Environmental specialists na/ n/a 29 44 52 61 73 78 75 Social advisers n/a n/a 131 141 145 147 146 146 125 Other technical staff n/a n/a 1,138 1,093 1,061 1,191 1,127 1,264 1,115
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Overseas Development Administration's policy regarding the responsibility of Overseas Development Administration staff working overseas to liaise with non-governmental organisations in those countries; and whether any staff are posted with the specific responsibility of liaising with local non-governmental organsiations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe encourage our staff working overseas to get to know, and co-operate with, other agencies operating in the countries concerned, including both local and United Kingdom-based NGOs. At present there are two ODA posts, one in Bangladesh and one in Pakistan, with a specific remit to liaise directly with local NGOs.
212WNicaragua
Bilateral aid reinstated in April 1990 to mark return to democracy. Previously only disaster relief and minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes.Vietnam
Assistance through British NGOs for the reintegration of boat people and for general development assistance.