§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
By what percentage the United Kingdom's bilateral aid to Africa and the Middle East will have increased or decreased in real terms by 1997–98 and what is the rationale for this change in the context of their stated objectives for the overseas aid programme.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyOur latest planning figures show that bilateral aid to Africa and the Middle East will decline by 16 per cent. in real terms between 1993/94 and 1997/98 (in 1994/95 prices). However the true decline is likely to be somewhat less in view of the rising unallocated reserve in future years which will be allocated to spending programmes nearer the time. The trends in the growth of multilateral—and particularly EU—aid means that the resources available for bilateral aid will be under considerable pressure in the coming years. Nevertheless we shall maintain as substantial and effective a bilateral aid programme as possible, concentrating on the poorest countries in Africa and Asia. The planning figures published in the Departmental Report show a rise in Africa's share of ODA' s planned country programmes from 44 per cent. in 1995/96 to 46 per cent. in 1997/98.