| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Aid Recipients (Free Elections)
34. Mr. David Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries that receive United Kingdom aid which have been assessed as not having free and fair elections. [15271]
Mr. Hanley: We have not made a systematic analysis of the 160 recipients of our aid, but our policy is to encourage good government, including moving towards the holding of free and fair elections, in all recipients of our aid.
Mr. Evans: I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. Does he agree that charity begins at home--
Mr. Tony Banks: We want an election!
Mr. Evans: Does my right hon. Friend agree that no country should receive aid unless it has one man, one vote? Does he further agree that that lot over there would spend more taxpayer's money on any corrupt Government they thought fit, as they have great experience of not holding free and fair elections--what with clause IV, 176 of them being supported by unions, blah, blah, blah, and the Labour-controlled councils of Hackney, Islington and Camden? Is this not another example of saying one thing and doing another?
Madam Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman does try the patience of the House.
Mr. Hanley: I am pleased to confirm to my hon. Friend that the last four general elections in the United Kingdom were free and fair; so was the result.
Dr. Godman: The Minister talked of good government. How does he measure Indonesia in relation to the Government's policy on good government? Is it not the case that, for the people of East Timor, that is a harsh and oppressive administration--if it may be called that? How much of that aid goes to the people of East Timor?
Mr. Hanley: We are concerned about reports of continuing human rights abuses in Indonesia, especially East Timor, and we certainly let the Indonesian Government know of our concerns. We did so most recently when Foreign Minister Alatas visited us last month. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about how much Indonesian aid goes to East Timor.
South Africa
35. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage change has taken place in aid to South Africa since the South African elections of 1994. [15272]
Mr. Hanley: Bilateral aid to South Africa in the year leading up to the South African elections in April 1994 was £14.4 million. The outturn for the current financial year is expected to be about £17 million--an increase of 18 per cent. Our share of European Union assistance has increased from approximately £12.5 million to about £17 million in 1995 at current exchange rates-- an increase of 36 per cent.
Mr. Pike: Although those increases are very welcome, does the Minister recognise the tremendous legacy of the apartheid years, particularly in education, health and
housing? Should we not do far more to help the majority of South Africans to achieve the living standards to which they are entitled?
Mr. Hanley: I agree with the priorities that the hon. Gentleman has expressed. We believe that education is a vital part of the aid that we provide to South Africa in helping its transition to what I hope will be a glorious future.
Mr. John Marshall: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the main hope for economic development in South Africa is international investment? Will he recommend to President Mandela that he encourage, rather than discourage, international investment?
Mr. Hanley: The key to South Africa's long-term prosperity is trade and investment. The Government are committed to developing our commercial links with South Africa, but there is also a role for well-targeted aid. Our aid is designed to help to develop sound policies and to establish models of sustainable development while focusing on the most disadvantaged groups. The South African Government understand their responsibilities and I believe that they are on the right track.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
Health Service Bodies
40. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what discussions the Commission has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General on the costs of inspecting the accounts of health service bodies. [15277]
Sir Peter Hordern (Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission): The commission regularly discusses the costs of the National Audit Office's activities--most recently on 30 January when it considered the National Audit Office's estimate for 1996-97. The costs of inspecting the accounts of health service bodies are included in the totals, but they were not discussed separately.
Mr. Hughes: I am grateful for that answer. I have received on the best--[Interruption.] As I have received information that the local Guy's and St. Thomas' national health service trust is to write off about £7 million in relation to the Philip Harris phase 3 building, how may I be assured that the Comptroller and Auditor General will have the resources this financial year to investigate and report on whether that information is correct?
Sir Peter Hordern: The Comptroller and Auditor General will have the resources for that study. Further, in light of preliminary work undertaken by the National Audit Office, the Comptroller and Auditor General intends to carry out a full investigation into what is now referred to as Guy's phase 3. The work will focus on the reasons for delays and cost overruns, given the National Audit Office's understanding that the building will be used largely as was intended at the outset of the project. The timing of the work is complicated by pending legal action. A report is expected to be published next year.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Palestine
36. Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for increasing aid for improving infrastructure and public services in Palestine. [15273]
Mr. Hanley: The United Kingdom intends to spend £85 million over three years for the Palestinians, with our bilateral aid for the west bank and Gaza being focused on improving public services. We will continue to provide aid for infrastructure improvements through our share of the substantial multilateral programmes.
Mr. Gunnell: In the wake of the events this weekend--which I am sure we all deplore--does the Minister agree that, as the election process is complete, the people who live on the west bank and those parts of Palestine under Palestinian control must see urgent and real improvements in their living standards? Does he agree that recent events signify the importance of redoubling efforts in support of the new, democratic regime in Palestine?
Mr. Hanley: I am pleased to agree with every word that the hon. Gentleman has said. Our aid to the Palestinians is the main pillar of our support for the peace process. Our policy is to encourage all states in the region to reach lasting, just and comprehensive settlements. We welcome the progress that has been made so far in the middle east peace process and we hope that there will be a resolution on the Israel-Syria track.
As to the hon. Gentleman's comments about the awful incidents yesterday, the whole House sends its sympathy to the families of those who were killed and to those who were injured. We all hope that it will not put the peace process off track. Considerable courage must be shown in the peace process. I hope that the people who suffered yesterday will share in the courage that is required.
Aid Budget
38. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross domestic product will be devoted to the Government's overseas aid budget in 1996-97. [15275]
Mr. Hanley: The aid budget in 1996-97 will be more than £2.1 billion. The proportion of gross national product that it will represent will depend on the rate of United Kingdom economic growth and inflation.
Mr. Cunningham: Is the Minister not ashamed of the Government's record? Over the past 10 or 15 years, the Government have systematically cut overseas aid. Is that not a disgrace when many under-developed countries are still struggling to modernise their water facilities, for example?
Mr. Hanley: I am certainly not ashamed of our aid contribution. Our aid budget of £2.23 billion covers aid to developing countries and assistance to countries in transition. We readily admit that last year's public
expenditure survey was particularly rigorous, but the Government have had to take some tough decisions. The cuts in the bilateral aid programme are effectively offset by lower forecasts of multilateral aid spending and, despite the small reduction in the budget, Britain will continue to be the fifth largest donor with an aid budget of £2.1 billion next year.
| Next Section
| Index | Home Page |