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to note that the 1985 Annual Report includes a larger, more comprehensive section on these issues than in previous years. We trust that this is evidence of the Bank's determination to keep these questions in the forefront of consideration in formulating and implementing project proposals.
Fourth, we urge that more technical assistance should be offered to help alleviate key constraints, and for institution building, so that developing member countries will be better equipped to make good use of future new lending. With that in mind, the United Kingdom supported the proposals to earmark for the Technical Assistance Special Fund a proportion of the funds in the fourth ADF replenishment, and thus put the TASF funding on a systematic footing. This should also help to increase the deployment of technical assistance for improving project preparation and implementation, and the abilities of the recipient countries to cope with unproductive use of resources and lack of administrative coordination. You will be aware that Britain is the second largest contributor to the financing of the TASF. As a further demonstration of our support, I am very pleased to announce another largely untied contribution of £300,000 to the Bank's Technical Assistance Special Fund, to be spent by 31 March 1987, pending the entry into force of the new arrangements.
Such
Fifth, the Bank should naturally take every opportunity to assist developing member countries to improve the efficiency of the economic and social institutions. help should include, when appropriate, advice and assistance on privatization of publicly owned assets and liberalization of economies. The British Government believes that the private sector can increase its contribution to successful growth. We are pleased that the Bank is now seeking to pursue opportunities in this area more systematically and has created a new division for that purpose.
Thus, many of the issues for the next decade are not new, they reflect the need to continue assisting development and seeking changes to ensure that the assistance provided is effective. For it it is not effective, seen to be so, and demonstrably so, it is difficult, if not impossible, to justify its continuation.
I have so far emphasized the future. What of the Bank's performance over the last year? Overall I think the Bank is to be commended for its activities over the last twelve months. We welcome the decision to introduce a pool-based variable lending rate; this will demand careful
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