asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what medical and welfare assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving in Vietnam; and if he will extend this assistance.

A British paediatric team of about ten members will arrive shortly in Saigon to work at the Children's Hospital there for a period of five years. Her Majesty's Government have already send 20 mobile anaesthetic machines to Vietnam and are supplying 20 more. In addition we shall be sending equipment to the Children's Hospital where our team will work. We shall consider other opportunities for helping in the medical field as they arise.

While thanking the Minister for that encouraging Answer, may I ask him whether he does not agree that it was unfortunate—when an international welfare organisation provides beds in Europe for child victims of this war and appeals for air transport help—that, according to a letter sent to me last week, it was left to a private airline to provide help? If beds for treatment are available in Europe for child victims, may we have an assurance that the Government will provide air transport?

No request was made to the British Government for assistance. Needless to say we should consider any requests made. It is true that a request was made to the American Government, but in the light of the correspondence between the hon. Member and myself, I hope that he realises that the Americans have made very substantial contributions to the relief of suffering and to medical aid in Vietnam.

Will my hon. Friend assure us that the team which has gone to Saigon will give medical aid to all victims of the Vietnam war whether they come from North or from South Vietnam?

Of course that is so. It is sited in Saigon and the casualties inflicted on the Vietcong equally with others will receive humanitarian assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present individual membership of the Commonwealth Mission on Vietnam.

The Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting last year appointed my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the President of Ghana and the Prime Ministers of Nigeria and of Trinidad and Tobago to be the members of the Mission. Any variation of membership would be a matter for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers collectively to consider.

Does that mean that ex-President Nkrumah is still a member of the Mission and that there is only one other member besides the Prime Minister of Britain? Since the need for a fair and honourable settlement in Vietnam is as great now as it was a year ago when the Mission was announced, may I ask whether the Government have any purposive plan to bring this about?

The hon. Member knows that the Commonwealth Mission is only one of many attempts which the Government have made to get a conference on Vietnam, but the Question refers to this particular method, which would require the collective decision of Commonwealth Prime Ministers.

What about Nkrumah.

Mr. Gordon Campbell—next Question.