asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government to Malagasy in the last two financial years; what aid is proposed for the forthcoming financial year; whether any Malagasy students are currently receiving education in the United Kingdom wholly or partly at the expense of the British taxpayer; what is the total cost of such expenditure; and whether it is proposed by her Department that any Malagasy students should receive education in the United Kingdom in the forthcoming financial year, at what expense to the British taxpayer.

Aid to Madagascar consists of technical co-operation. There is no capital aid programme. Expenditure on bilateral technical co-operation for Madagascar in 1977–78 was £213,000. Expenditure for 1978–79 is expected to be £230,000: in 1979–80 it is expected to be about £300,000. There are currently 16 Malagasy students being trained in the United Kingdom financed by the technical co-operation programme at a cost of £46,000: about 50 training places will be made available in 1979, costing approximately £180,000.