§ 41. Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department has taken to ensure that Britain's aid programme benefits the world's poorest people.
§ Mr. BaldryOur aid to low-income countries is designed to promote lasting reduction of poverty through the encouragement of broad-based economic growth, through investment in social and infrastructure systems, through direct poverty reduction activities and through targeted help for those unable to benefit from growth.
§ 43. Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of overseas aid goes towards meeting basic needs.
§ Mr. BaldryWe estimate that in 1992–93 around 10 per cent. of United Kingdom bilateral aid expenditure was on basic human needs. In addition, we provided £150 million of bilateral emergency aid, most of which went to meet basic needs in times of crisis, as did much of the 46 per cent. of aid channelled through multilateral agencies.
§ 44. Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the overseas development budget goes towards assisting the world's poorest countries.
§ Mr. BaldryIn 1992–93 80 per cent. of United Kingdom bilateral aid to the developing countries which is allocable by income group was spent on aid to the poorest countries.