asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's bilateral aid programme with specific reference to the Sudan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this has been cut by 78 per cent since 1986; and if he will outline his future plans for this aid programme.
Written Answers. - Bilateral Aid Programme.
58.
I am aware that bilateral aid programme expenditUre in the Sudan fell by approximately 78 per cent since 1986. Because of reductions in the overall funding for the bilateral aid programme since 1986 it was not possible to undertake new projects. In the case of the Sudan many of the existing projects were coming to an end and this led to a disproportionate fall in expenditure there.
During the same period, however, there was a significant increase in disaster relief expenditure in the Sudan. Disaster relief allocations in the period 1987 to 1989 came to over £800,000. Expenditure in the Sudan under the bilateral aid programme for 1990 is not yet clear but it is expected that a modest increase should be possible. The development of the bilateral aid programme, including the programme in the Sudan, in the longer term will depend on available resources.