78.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to announce the figures for the percentage of gross national product spent on official development assistance in 1989.
I expect to be able to provide this information in June.
97.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards attaining the 0·7 per cent. of gross national product level of aid/development spending.
In 1988 United Kingdom official development assistance as a percentage of gross national product was 0·32 per cent. The Government have accepted the United Nations target for official development assistance of 0·7 per cent. of GNP, but, like previous Administrations and many other donors, have not set a timetable for achieving it. Progess must depend on economic circumstances and other claims on resources.