HL Deb 05 February 1992 vol 535 cc12-3WA
Baroness Ewart-Biggs

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much British overseas aid was given to Fiji in 1990–91 and 1991–92; and whether, in view of the Harare Accord linking overseas aid provision to a country's human rights record, they will review their overseas aid policy to Fiji and the training of members of the Fijian armed forces.

The Earl of Caithness

Disbursements of UK bilateral aid to Fiji in 1990–91 totalled £1.627 million. Figures for 1991–92 are not yet available. The Government keep their aid policy to Fiji, as elsewhere, under regular review.

Withholding aid would not further the objective of a return to democracy. No useful purpose would be served, for example, by depriving the ordinary people of Fiji of medical services made possible by our aid. There has been no evidence of a pattern of regular or systematic abuse of basic human rights in Fiji. We have maintained military aid at historical levels since the coups: that is two or three places a year on courses in the UK. We see no reason to change this.