HC Deb 15 July 1999 vol 335 cc284-5W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts with regard to increasing the proportion of EU assistance which is invested in low-income countries. [91301]

Mr. Foulkes

I have recently agreed with my Irish, Swedish and Dutch counterparts a joint message to the European Commission asking it to bring forward proposals for increasing the proportion of EC official development assistance to low-income countries each year from 2000–06, with the aim of the proportion reaching 70 per cent. by 2006.