asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is intended to publish a long term plan for overseas development aid, including a commitment to a certain level of financial expenditure over a number of years; if such a plan is essential to allow organisations involved in the administration of overseas development aid to plan their activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
28.
As the Deputy will be aware I stated in a written answer on 7 May 1987 that I did not consider the publication of a White Paper on Official Development Assistance to be a matter of priority. On the same date in reply to oral questions I stated that successive Governments had accepted the UN target of 0.7 per cent for official development assistance but that no date had been set for its attainment. The target would be reached as soon as economic circumstances permitted.
In the circumstances it is not my intention to publish a long term plan for Official Development Assistance. As regards the second half of the question, I wish to point out that the organisations involved in overseas development aid which receive financial support from the bilateral aid programme have operated successfully over the years in the absence of an official long term plan.