HL Deb 10 June 1996 vol 572 cc147-8WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which recommendations of the Fundamental Expenditure Review of the Overseas Development Administration they will accept and which they will reject.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)

The Government have accepted most of the recommendations of the Fundamental Expenditure Review. These have now been implemented or are in the process of implementation. The significant exceptions or modifications are as follows:

  1. (i) Ministers accepted that ODA' s mission statement should be revised. The mission statement agreed is a refinement of that recommended.
  2. (ii) The proposal to have aim "promoters" was accepted but the title changed to "aim directors". The aim directors were appointed on 18th December last year.
  3. (iii) Ministers agreed that country programme resources should be more concentrated, and under current plans the largest bilateral recipients will account for a gradually increasing share, but no target has been set for the number of focus countries or the proportion of aid which goes to them.
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  4. (iv) The FER recommended the transfer of all of British Council staff and building core costs to the Diplomatic Wing of the FCO, with ODA providing an accountable grant for identified activities of benefit to development activities. Ministers decided, however, that the existing arrangements for two separate grants-in-aid to the British Council, one from each wing of the FCO, should continue.
  5. (v) The FER proposed a number of changes in scholarships programmes designed to strengthen integration with country programmes. Ministers agreed to modify some of these recommendations. As a result, central allocations for the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Programme will continue. The allocations of Chevening Scholarships will be agreed by geographical departments on a country basis, although financial administration will continue centrally. The position of the ODA Shared Scholarship Scheme is under review with the universities concerned and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.