HC Deb 14 May 1998 vol 312 c169W
Sir Alastair Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held about the proportion of(a) the Commonwealth Fund for technical co-operation and (b) other Commonwealth activity financed by the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [41807]

Clare Short

The Government are a strong supporter of the Commonwealth, contributing an annual total of some £18 million from the aid programme to a wide range of Commonwealth development programmes, including the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation. We are the largest contributor to these programmes traditionally providing 30 per cent. of all contributions. In addition, we pledged an extra £4 million at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for Commonwealth Secretariat programmes.