§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 20 November,Official Report, column 204 and 28 November, Official Report, column 583, what percentage of British aid in 1989 was untied; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy answer to the hon. Member for Workington on 20 November related to total aid commitments. My answer on 28 November related to bilateral aid expenditure. The latest estimate of untied aid as a percentage of total aid commitments for 1989 is 34.8 per cent.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the percentage change in overseas aid was in real terms between 1979 and 1990.
§ Mrs. ChalkerGross public expenditure on aid was 17 per cent. lower in real terms in 1990 compared with 1979. However, the aid programme is managed on a financial year basis and patterns of disbursements within financial years may not be reflected in calendar year statistics. Compared with 1979–80 gross public expenditure on aid in 1990–91 was 8 per cent. lower in real terms.