HC Deb 14 October 1996 vol 282 cc643-4W
Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom budget per annum in each year since 1979 committed to bilateral aid programmes in Gambia. [39600]

Dr. Liam Fox

United Kingdom gross bilateral aid to the Gambia since 1979 was as follows:

  • 1979–80—£2.00 million
  • 1980–81—£2.32 million
  • 1981–82—£2.48 million
  • 1982–83—£2.40 million
  • 1983–84—£3.64 million
  • 1984–85—£3.61 million
  • 1985–86—£9.90 million
  • 1986–87—£7.20 million
  • 1987–88—£6.53 million
  • 1988–89—£5.10 million
  • 1989–90—£6.37 million
  • 1990–91—£5.75 million
  • 1991–92—£4.88 million
  • 1992–93—£4.39 million
  • 1993–94—£2.76 million
  • l994–95—£2.23 million
  • Estimated spending in 1995–96 was £1.97 million.

Miss Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Kingdom budget per annum currently committed to on-going bilateral aid programmes in Gambia. [39562]

Dr. Fox

Spending on on-going bilateral aid programmes in the Gambia is estimated at £1.2 million in 1996–97.

Miss Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom budget for 1994–95 and 1995–96 committed to aid programmes in Gambia through the European Union; and what is the amount allotted for use in voter registration projects in that country. [39575]

Dr. Fox

The European Union committed 2.5 mecu to the Gambia from 1994 to 1996. The United Kingdom share is estimated at £0.29 million.

The United Kingdom and the European Commission jointly provided about £0.9 million this year to fund a voter registration project in the Gambia.

Miss Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the conditions to be met before Her Majesty's Government will lift the United Kingdom aid embargo on Gambia; and what plans he has to review that embargo. [39599]

Dr. Fox

The United Kingdom, along with other members of the European Union, will not consider making new aid commitments in the Gambia until there is a return to a democratically elected civilian Government.

We have, however, jointly with the European Commission, provided help to prepare a voter register. We have made it clear that no further assistance for the elections will be given until the ban on political parties is lifted, political detainees are released or charged, and harassment of the press ceases.

The situation is under constant review.