LONDON (Reuters) - International Development Secretary Clare Short said on Tuesday Britain was fulfilling its promise to increase aid to the developing world.

Department for International Development figures showed a 14 percent rise in total expenditure for the 1998-99 year to $3.7 billion.

``This government pledged to reverse the decline in development assistance over the previous 18 years, and the figures show that we are fulfilling that commitment,'' Short said in a statement.

``The people who will benefit are the 1.3 billion across the world who exist on the margins of life. Our investment, as part of the combined international effort, will help them to work their way out of poverty.''

Britain's top five aid recipients were India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

Total emergency aid was $314 million, up 5 percent, with Sudan getting the biggest slice -- $38.9 million -- followed by Bangladesh with $25.9 million.

Around $295 million was channeled through non-governmental organizations, with $38.9 million in emergency aid.

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