§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals in how many countries are estimated to have benefited from overseas aid in each of the past five years; how much cash was involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn the last five years we have provided bilateral aid to an average of 133 countries each year. By promoting economic and social development, and by helping reduce poverty, our aid is intended to be of wide benefit in the recipient countries. It is not, however, possible to say how many individuals have benefited. The amount of aid which we have provided is as follows:
Gross bilateral aid £ million1 Total gross aid £ million1 1988–89 933 1,616 1989–90 1,035 1,736 1990–91 1,168 1,893 1991–92 1,081 2,016 1992–93 1,278 2,245 1 Rounded to the nearest million.