§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to introduce legislation amending the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 to make explicitly illegal any direct or indirect linking of aid to sales of military equipment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 sets out the legal basis for the aid programme. It does not cover any specific areas of aid policy. We do not see any need to amend the Act to cover arms sales links. It is the Government's clear policy not to link the aid programme to arms sales.