13.This Act repeals and replaces the 1980 Act. The main change relates to the purposes for which assistance can be provided. Section 1(1) of the 1980 Act set out the purposes for which financial, technical or assistance "of any other nature" could be furnished by the Secretary of State, namely:
"...promoting the development or maintaining the economy of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, or the welfare of its people...".
The new purposes are described below.
14.The basis for the Government’s contributions to European Community development programmes, with the exception of the European Development Fund, is the European Communities Act 1972. This is unaffected by the provisions of the new Act.