asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans she has for providing alternative employment for European officials who will shortly be redundant in Zambia.

Such officers are welcome to register with the Overseas Services Resettlement Bureau, which can help them to obtain employment in Britain, and those who wish may be considered by my Ministry for further employment overseas.

Is the Minister aware that since this Question was put down there have been Press reports that a well-known civil servant has been dismissed, that this will increase the feeling of uncertainty and that the Answer which he has just given will not allay it very much?

I do not think that the general facilities are affected by the unfortunate case to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will extend the Overseas Aid Scheme to local authorities and other para-government bodies overseas; and if she will estimate the additional cost involved.

My right hon. Friend is examining the case for such an extension but is not yet able to make a statement. If the scheme were so extended the additional cost would depend on the numbers of British officers employed by the bodies concerned and I would hesitate to give an estimate until the matter has been further studied.

While welcoming that reply, which I count as semi-helpful, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that many of the central government functions in many countries are carried out by the local authorities and by public bodies? Is he also aware of the very real difficulty which arises in having British staff working upon O.A.S. and technical assistance terms in the same country?

I am aware of these points and they are among the considerations that will be borne in mind when the review takes place.

Is the Minister aware, for instance, of the situation which arises in connection with the national parks in Tanganyika? I understand that the Department has considered itself inhibited from granting aid because they are not directly under the administration of the Tanganyikan Government, but that, nevertheless, other foreign Governments have granted a lot of aid. Surely it seems wrong that the British Government should remain inhibited from helping this exceedingly worthy cause.

The particular question of national parks is a difficult one in that under the 1951 Act an extension was not possible without an Amendment to cover such employees. This is a point which is being taken into consideration.

Can the Minister say when he expects his consideration to be completed and when he will be able to make an announcement?

I cannot give a date at the moment, but it will be proceeded with quite rapidly.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps she has taken to get the Income Tax deducted in Ghana from the pensions of former civil servants refunded.

I have been assured that over-payments of Ghana Income Tax by Ghana pensioners resident in the United Kingdom will be refunded when the pensions are paid at the end of December.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his reply, but may I ask him whether he is aware that some of this Income Tax goes back over three years and that I have constituents who have been waiting a very long time? Will the hon. Gentleman redouble his efforts to make the Ghana authorities pay back this money which is owing to British citizens?

I am not sure that any redoubling of effort is needed, since the matter looks like being cleared up in a week or so. Since the agreement was only reached in February and suspension of deductions of Income Tax was made immediately in the subsequent three months, that rectified the position to a large extent. The detailed calculations have had to be made since, and I do not think that the hon. Gentleman can rightly suggest that there has been any undue delay.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to accept responsibility for the payment of overseas pensions.

No, Sir. The Government will continue to look to overseas Governments to pay the pensions of their former officers and will continue also to safeguard the position of the pensioners.

But is the right hon. Lady aware that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Secretary of the Overseas Pensioners' Association and said quite frankly that the Government's mind was made up in favour of this proposal? Is this another election pledge which the Government propose to break?

There has been no pledge given by this Government. We know that these overseas officers were offered and accepted posts under overseas Governments. Therefore, the obligation to pay the pension should rest with those Governments.

Why did the Labour Party say before the election that it intended to agree with this proposal? Surely this is a broken pledge.

The Labour Party has not made such a pledge.

Is it or is it not a fact that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote in the terms suggested?

That is not a question for me.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what is the annual target for Government aid to developing countries as a proportion of national income;

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is proposing to make any change in the proportion of British aid which is tied to expenditure in this country.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what changes she is proposing to make in the proportions of British aid expenditure devoted to bilateral and multilateral programmes.

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer this Question and Nos. 6, 8 and 14 together. I do so because these Questions, taken together, call for conclusions on major aspects of our aid policy.

While not complaining that this matter should be looked at fundamentally in the way that the right hon. Lady suggests, may I ask her whether she can give us some idea of how soon she will be able to give these replies, bearing in mind that she was pretty definite about some of these things in the House not many months ago?

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that my Ministry has been in existence for only a few weeks. Although he is quite right to anticipate that the Government will take urgent action on all matters of public importance, we cannot do it as quickly as that when the staff has not even been built up. Moreover, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at Geneva last spring called for a review of the policies by the donor countries. This is now being carried out in the Development Advisory Committee of O.E.C.D. Some months must elapse before even the interim reports can be produced for the consideration of the Ministerial Council.

Since giving aid to the Colonies has so far been untied, although it is always hoped that the Colonies will buy British, can the right hon. Lady say what percentage of aid is tied at present and whether, in consulting other donor countries, she will endeavour to get all aid untied?

Rather more than one-third of our bilateral capital aid is formally tied. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that if all countries were to untie their aid this country would probably stand to benefit. But I am sure that he will agree that in the present urgent economic situation we could not take unilateral action in this field.

Could the right hon. Lady be a little clearer in answer to Question No. 14? Does she favour more bilateral aid or more multilateral aid?

This is clearly a matter which must be considered in the light of the general review. About 12 per cent. of our aid at the moment is multilateral. I cannot add to what I have already said about policy.

Could not the right hon. Lady answer a little more definitely my earlier question about how long she anticipates this review will take? It is not true to suggest that these matters have not been considered before. Does she still adhere to the view which she expressed to the House at the end of July that the balance of payments should not be advanced as a reason for there not being an immediate increase in Government aid?

On the time factor, I think that the hon. Gentleman is a little unreasonable in asking why we are not in a position to make this policy statement yet. I repeat that I am still completing the staffing of my Ministry. I also repeat that the Development Advisory Committee has not finished its considerations. It would be quite wrong to try to reach conclusions in isolation from the other donor countries and international agencies involved.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent the balance of payments affects the scale of Government aid to developing countries.

In present circumstances the effect on the balance of payments is a factor which the Government will have particularly in mind when determining the amount and types of aid which can be made available. The extent to which aid is a burden on the balance of payments depends on many factors including the extent to which it is spent in this country, and the extent to which other countries are giving aid simultaneously.

Does not the right hon. Lady recall that on, I think, 28th July last she made another speech in this House in which she advanced the theory that the balance of payments was no valid reason why this country should not increase its aid to 1 per cent. of the national product then and there? Why has she changed her mind since then?

I fully recollect that in my speech from the Opposition Front Bench in February I said that the balance of payments position would be bound to have a crippling effect on aid until we had introduced international monetary reform which removed the shadow from our activities. I have stressed that clearly there is some return to us from aid, and this is a point which we should never overlook. There is a direct return of some of the moneys back to this country and there is also the indirect return in the stimulation of world trade, from which we can only hope to benefit.

Is the right hon. Lady considering means of giving aid to the developing countries which would directly help British industry? In particular, has she considered the provision of light air-craft, of which production is expanding in this country and for which there is particular need in some of the nations of Africa?

Wherever we see an opportunity of increasing opportunities for British exports without damaging the main purpose of aid—which is to stimulate the development of the receiving countries—we seek those opportunities.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will give an estimate of the number of staff her Department expects to have serving overseas in 1965; and whether these will include specialised project advisers.

About 550 in the direct employment of my Department, including specialised project advisers.

Does the right hon. Lady consider this number sufficient for the real and gigantic task of co-operation with the developing countries which her Department must carry out? If it is not sufficient, will she, through the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office, work in those territories where she cannot be represented?

I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman understood my reply. I assumed that his Question referred to the staff in the direct employment of my Department. The majority of these would be the expert advisers we supply to overseas Governments under the regional programmes of technical assistance. They also include our Middle East Development Division. Of course, there are other people whom we are helping to place in the employment of overseas Governments. These are not included in my figure. Nor are the representatives in our embassies and high commissions who are to deal with aid matters.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that her hon. Friends are very satisfied with the progress which she is making in building up this Ministry and with the enthusiasm which she is bringing to her job?—[Interruption.]—However, can she say whether the staff she has in mind includes economists to work under her new chief economist in helping remote areas of the world to draw up their development plans?

I thank my hon. Friend for what he has said. I am sure that he will agree with me that the laughter of hon. Members opposite reflects a guilty conscience for their having failed to institute this necessary planning action which we are pressing ahead with at a remarkably rapid rate.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development by how much the staff of her Department is expected to exceed that of the Department of Technical Co-operation; and how many of the extra staff will be transferred from other Departments.

Approximately 500, of which some 140 are attributable to preexisting functions. Arrangements have so far been made to transfer 87 staff in respect of these posts.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what requests she has recently received from the Government of Zambia for the provision of higher education personnel and agricultural officers on secondment; and to what extent she is able to meet the requirements.

I have received no requests in these categories since the independence of Zambia and none is outstanding in relation to staff for higher education. I have outstanding requests for 19 agricultural field officers. Four of these posts are about to be filled and the remainder are under active recruitment.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he bear in mind the real need of Zambia to develop its agricultural potential, and will he do all in his power to ensure that his Department is able to satisfy its requirements?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the needs of agriculture, not only in Zambia but in other territories in Africa, are very urgent and fundamental. The Ministry certainly has what he says very much in mind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what will be the amount of the British contribution next year to the United Nations Special Fund and Expanded Programme for Technical Assistance; and what percentage change this represents on the present British contributions.

I cannot yet give figures, but since, as has already been announced, our contribution will be larger than it was this year, the United Nations authorities need not fear any unfavourable effect on their 1965 programme.

In thanking the right hon. Lady for that Answer, may I inquire whether, in the light of the very large number of British nationals—and, I assume from her Answer, an even larger number of British nationals—who are working for the expanded programmes, she thinks that there might be an informal link or tie-up between the pre-investment exploration work which they do and subsequent development by specifically British industrial undertakings, so that altruism can be wedded to national self-interest?

I am aware of the point that the hon. Member has raised. It is a consideration which we are bearing in mind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps she is proposing to take to strengthen British representation in the developing countries concerned with aid; and whether such strengthening will take place within embassies and high commissions, or whether her Department will set up its own offices overseas.

My Department is reviewing, in consultation with the Overseas Departments, the provision of staff at our embassies and high commissions to deal with development matters. This would include the secondment of specialist officers from my Department in appropriate cases.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that a number of appointments in both the technical assistance and teaching fields have been delayed because the representatives of developing countries over here have no authority to act without referring everything back to their Governments at home and that efficiency would be improved if our representation in these countries could be improved?

Certainly, we are anxious to extend our representation in these embassies and high commissions and we are also considering seconding specialist officers from my Department to work in these embassies and high commissions to establish closer and more effective relationships with the receiving countries and also to be able more effectively to supervise the management of aid.

Can the right hon. Lady confirm that the strengthening decided on as a result of the first quick review undertaken of all needs by the last Administration either has been or definitely will be carried out?

Yes. We already have an estimate of new requirements and we are taking rapid steps to put those estimates into operation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what initiative she is taking towards the establishment of a World Development Authority.

None yet, Sir.

Does not the Minister remember her fiery and crusading speech in the House in February, when she envisaged a world authority giving much increased aid and subsidised by a world income tax? As she then said that this would be given priority if the Labour Party came to power, should not the right hon. Lady now be giving a lead to the United Nations? [Interruption.]

I certainly remember that speech. It was an excellent speech. I am glad that the hon. Member has studied it with special care and, apparently, approves its contents. The establishment of a World Development Authority is, of course, a very long-term initiative and it is one that would have to be considered in the light of the recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which has been a new development since I made that speech. In the meantime, however, the very establishment of this Ministry, which enables us both to plan more effectively our own internal aid and to establish more effective relationships with other donor countries and with United Nations agencies in this field, is a most useful step in this direction.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what formal relationship exists between her Department and the International Labour Organisation; and what is the extent of this relationship.

Formal relations between Her Majesty's Government and the International Labour Organisation are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister of Labour with whose officers my Ministry works closely on I.L.O. matters relating to aid and development as part of my responsibility for co-ordinating British policy in this field.

Does the Minister recall that in her statement on 10th November, referring to the Specialised Agencies, she did not refer to the work in co-ordination with this United Nations specialised department? Will she give an assurance that she will pay particular regard to its valuable management training courses?

In my statement of 10th November, I pointed out that I had general responsibility for coordinating British policy in respect of the aid and development work of the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies. I also pointed out that I would be taking over the executive responsibility for our relations with F.A.O. and U.N.E.S.C.O. These are Specialised Agencies which have a particular activity in this field. That is why I have taken over executive responsibility for them, but not for the I.L.O., which is concerned with many industrial matters which are more the interest of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she proposes to make any changes in the functions and resources of the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

Responsibility for the Corporation is in process of being transferred to my Department. When this transfer is completed I shall review these matters with the Commonwealth Development Corporation in the light of the needs of the British aid programme as a whole.

Will the right hon. Lady, in her review, bear in mind that the Commonwealth Development Corporation, by helping developing countries to lay some foundations for their own industries, plays a vital part indeed in the aid that we can give? Will the right hon. Lady therefore see that its work is stimulated to the greatest possible extent?

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that the C.D.C. is doing admirable and valuable work, and the purpose of the review will certainly be to strengthen its hand.

May I ask the right hon. Lady to be careful not to promise more overseas aid than this country can and is willing to afford?

Will the right hon. Lady, in her review, consider allowing the C.D.C. to operate in the sub-continent of India?

I would rather not add to the Answer that I have just given.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what changes she is proposing to make in the rôle of the British Council in providing educational aid.

The Department of Technical Co-operation and the British Council kept in close and continuous touch regarding the educational assistance rendered by them to developing countries, and these arrangements are being continued by my Department. In consultation with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Commonwealth Secretary I shall be considering whether any improvements can be made, and in the event of this I will make a fuller statement in due course.

I thank the right hon. Lady for that reply, but would not she agree that there is a danger of overlapping and duplication in this field as between the British Council and her new Ministry? Will she do what she can to avoid overlapping in trying to recruit new teachers?

We have arrangements for the co-ordination of educational assistance under technical co-operation arrangements and through the British Council. We shall continue to strengthen that co-ordination.

In the consultations which my right hon. Friend will be having with the Commonwealth Secretary and the Foreign Secretary, will she impress on them the importance of their ambassadors and high commissioners not appearing in any way to do the job of the British Council representatives whose work is made easier when they are seen to be independent of direct agencies of the British Government?

I think that the implications of that question are for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Does the right hon. Lady expect to be able to get more funds for the British Council for this work?

I think that that must await my further statement.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps she is taking to increase the number of technical staff supplied to former British dependencies in Africa.

The annual rate of appointment of qualified staff has more than doubled for Commonwealth Africa since 1962. I have begun a thorough review of recruitment policy generally to see what more can be done to improve our performance still further.

Will the right hon. Lady, whose enthusiasm for her task we all appreciate, bear in mind that this is one of the most valuable forms of aid, but that one of the great difficulties is to ensure, on their return, the seniority of experts, particularly doctors and teachers, who go out from this country for a temporary term of service overseas?

My right hon. Friend will have heard the right hon. Gentleman's remarks. She was nodding, which indicates that she understood the point made by him. These points will be taken into account in the review that is to be made.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that agreement by nodding is not the same as agreement by voice?

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proposals she has to revive the concept of a world food board for the disposal of agricultural surpluses.

The co-existence of actual and potential agricultural surpluses in developed countries with the hunger and poverty in many parts of the world clearly presents a challenge and an opportunity.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that disposal of these surpluses is already being carried out by the United Nations through the World Food Programme, and being carried out in a way which is helping indigenous agriculture in developing countries? Is it not better to support the United Nations in its programme than to set up some new body?

We are examining these problems in the context of the World Food Programme, which is to be reviewed during 1965. I think that the Question referred to wider purposes than the World Food Programme, and we feel that it is right, in collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, to consider these wider purposes.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her original reply will cause disappointment to many of her right hon. and hon. Friends, because have they not for years been pushing out this idea of a world food plan, and has not she contradicted it this afternoon, or at any rate delayed it for many months, and why?

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's statements. We fully support the aims and purposes underlying the concept of a world food board as originated by Lord Boyd Orr in 1946, but it is simply a question of finding the best means of securing those objects in present circumstances.

Will the right hon. Lady say what is the difference, as she sees it, between the duties and responsibilities of the World Food Programme, which is in existence at the moment, and the world

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proposals she has for encouraging private investment overseas.

I am aware that private investment has a useful rôle to play in development and I am examining ways in which that rôle can most effectively be discharged.

I think it would be agreed that the world food board has more ambitious aims, which I am discussing with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will state the total assistance provided to all the less developed countries, from Great Britain, during the last three years in the form of bilateral grants and loans, contributions to international organisations and multilateral aid, and private capital, respectively; and which of these specific forms of overseas assistance she proposes to expand.

With permission, I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I am at present considering the future shape of our aid programme.

Does the right hon. Lady think that the balance of payments situation will affect this consideration?

It will certainly be one of the many factors which we shall consider.

While welcoming the right hon. Lady's reply, may I ask whether she is aware that the measures recently introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer have positively discouraged private investment overseas? Is she aware of the measures which Germany has taken with regard to countries such as India to encourage German manufacturers to invest overseas? What is the right hon. Lady's attitude to insurance against political risks attaching to investments overseas?

I am not aware of the fact to which the hon. Gentleman referred in the first part of his supplementary question. With regard to the last part of it, I would point out that the question of guarantees for private investment overseas has been under examination for some time by various international bodies, but proposals of this kind raise problems which concern the Treasury, the Board of Trade, and other Departments as well as my own.

Considering the balance of payments situation which we inherited, is it not unfortunately necessary to limit overseas investment?

Will the right hon. Lady at least give an undertaking that we will play a full and active part in the work of O.E.C.D. in helping the conditions for private investment, including the idea of a multilateral insurance scheme against political risks?

I give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that we will give careful consideration to that.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what means exist, or are envisaged, for informing sixth formers in secondary modern, grammar, and comprehensive schools of the opportunities that exist in pursuing a career in overseas territories which are within her purview; and if she will make a statement.

The most effective means, in my opinion, is in the sixth form conferences for groups of schools on Commonwealth affairs organised so admirably by the Commonwealth Institute. Officers of my Department are frequently invited to take part in these conferences and do so. My Ministry is of course also associated with the scheme for volunteers run by Voluntary Service Overseas which has close contacts with schools.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider using Mr. Nicholas Kaldor as a lecturer in the schools?

Mr. Kaldor is fully occupied helping to clear up the economic mess left by the Conservative Government.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in spite of the so-called economic mess to which he refers, aid was doubled by the last Government in six years? Will he set a similar target?

It is certainly true that aid was increased, but it is also true that we are going to do far better.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what measures Her Majesty's Government propose to take to increase the supply of British teachers to Nigeria and to encourage the continued service of those already there.

I am glad to announce that arrangements have been agreed with the Nigerian Federal Government for the retention of British teachers in Nigeria and the recruitment of new ones.

On a point of order. Is it not customary, Mr. Speaker, for Government statements to be made after Question Time?

It is always a matter of judgment whether it is better to do it then or in the middle of Questions. The point is that we should try to keep both supplementary questions and answers as short as is consistent with what has to be done.

I am interested to note that hon. Members opposite, having pressed me for statements of policy, are obviously very annoyed when I am able to announce an advance in this field.

Will my right hon. Friend pay special attention to links with Western Nigeria?

Yes. This will be included.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development, whether she is aware that medical practitioners and others concerned with the treatment of leprosy are proscribing the use of the word "leper" in view of the fact that the odium associated with this word has done much to prevent the cooperation of communities concerned and hence the eradication of the disease; and whether she will give an assurance that this consideration is borne in mind by the staff of her Department in their dealings with medical aid.

I am aware that it has been suggested from time to time that lepers should be known by another name. As ray right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has already pointed out, changes in the English words are not likely to have much significance among those communities where the disease is commonest. I believe that my Department's efforts should be devoted to helping to stamp out the disease rather than to trying to cloak it under another name.

Is the—[Interruption.] Is the Minister—[Interruption. ] Is the Minister aware—[Interruption.] On a point of order, Mr. Speaker——

There is no point of order, but the noise is delaying progress and must be less.

Is the Minister aware of the great distress that has been caused among the unfortunate sufferers of this disease by the moronic observations of the Prime Minister, and is not this typical of—[Interruption.] the Socialist Party?

I have watched the hon. and gallant Gentleman over a period of six weeks attempt to tackle—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]—I am answering. I have watched him attempt to tackle three separate Ministers in order to make the point that he has now made. I had a lingering hope that he had a serious point to make in connection with this pathetic disease, but since he seeks merely to make a party political point, I would say to him that he appears to put too literal an interpretation on the remarks of my right hon. Friend. I have heard the hon. and gallant Member himself described in colourful terms which perhaps ought not to be taken too literally.