asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will take steps designed to improve negotiating procedures for the replenishment of the International Development Association.

The President of the Association, Mr. McNamara, has already made proposals designed to ensure that the next replenishment can be settled in enough time to allow the Association to enter new commitments from the middle of 1971, and we support these proposals.

Could the right hon. Lady say what she thinks is the absolute deadline for replenishment? Does she intend to urge that the next programme will cover five years rather than the very short period which was covered on the previous occasion?

The proposals of Mr. McNamara are that there should be agreement, if possible, by the end of June, 1970, so that the necessary legislation can be introduced and enacted by the end of June, 1971. The first payments would then become payable in November, 1971. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the difficulty on the last occasion was caused by delays in legislation. We shall certainly seek to fulfil the McNamara proposal.