HC Deb 09 March 2000 vol 345 cc795-6W
Ms Drown

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the likely impact on the UK economy of(a) unilaterally, and (b) multilaterally untying the UK's aid programme. [113487]

Mr. Foulkes

Studies have shown that both unilateral and multilateral untying are likely to bring benefits to the UK economy. Multilateral untying will, however, bring greater development benefits. We are working to encourage all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries to join the OECD's Development Assistance Committee initiative to untie development assistance to the least developed countries.