§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government first received(a) a draft copy and (b) the final version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report on the United Kingdom's aid programme published on 5 July; and what plans there are to respond to the criticisms contained in the OECD report.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe received a copy of the draft version of the report on 24 February and the final version on 5 July. The intervening period was required for the OECD to circulate the draft to other members for comments, and to fit publication into its printing schedule. Overall the OECD report recognised the many strengths in the "highly concessional and business-like" United Kingdom aid programme. We are continually looking for ways to improve efficiency and in doing so we shall take into account the conclusions of the OECD review.