HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc884-5W
Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on how his Department's use of overseas aid helps promote good government in Turkey, in particular relating to the promotion of human rights as set out in paragraph 38 iii, page 58, of his Department's report 1994 Cm. 2502.

Mr. Baldry

In Turkey, British aid funds are used on projects which contribute to a number of the key objectives set out in paragraph 38 of the Department's report, particularly enhancing productive capacity and human development, as well as good government.

Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total amount of overseas and grants made to Turkey for each year since 1979 in cash and constant 1993–94 prices.

Mr. Baldry

Prior to 1987–88, separate figures for annual amounts of aid grants made to Turkey are not available. The table gives gross public expenditure on aid to Turkey for each year since 1979, with the amount spent on grants for the years 1987–88 to 1993–94 inclusive.

Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the current aid projects and (b) the current Government contracts with Turkey.

Mr. Baldry

Aid projects in Turkey currently supported by the aid programme areprovision of an English Language teaching specialist, plus training and equipment, for the School of Foreign Languages in Cukurova University at a cost of £475,000 over 1992–95; £1,030,000 for awards under the Chevening Scholarship Scheme in 1994–95; support from the Aid and Trade Provision for British sub-contractors to provide goods and services for the construction of a metro in Ankara £22.069 million over 1993–97. On 13 December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that in future expenditure on this project will be met from funds voted by Parliament outside the scope of the Overseas Development and Cooperation Act. support from the Aid and Trade Provision for a contract between a British company, TecQuipment International, and the Turkish Council of Higher Education for the supply of technical teaching equipment to 27 state universities in 'Turkey; £23.363 million over 1993–96.