asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress she has made in the recruitment of the 30 economists needed for the proposed expansion of her Department's activities; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is satisfied that the recruitment of economists and statisticians to the staff of her Ministry is designed to ensure that the best possible use is made of British aid to the developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her estimated requirement of economists in her Department; and what steps she is taking to secure them.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many economists she estimates will be needed for the necessary expansion of her Department's activities; and what progress has been made in their recruitment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress she has made in recruitment of economists for expansion of her staff; and whether she proposes to have economists who will assist underdeveloped Commonwealth countries in drawing up their development plans and in formulating aid projects.

Recruitment of economists and statisticians to my staff should certainly assist in ensuring that the best use is made of British aid to developing countries. We shall also be better able to meet requests from overseas countries to advise on development plans and projects. One part-time and four full-time economists have so far been recruited and arrangements to recruit a further 10 economists are proceeding. All will have had considerable experience of development work though it is proposed to recruit some less experienced people as well for training.

Can the right hon. Lady say whether she plans to make use of these economists by sending them abroad to study conditions in the field and to initiate surveys? Would she not agree that they would be largely wasted if they were left at home in the Ministry?

I would not agree with the last part of that supplementary question. We have found that there is a great deal to be done inside the Ministry in evaluating development plans put to us by different countries, and in many other aspects of our work. It may be that from time to time they will go into the field to give advice on the spot.

Will my right hon. Friend name the four full-time and the one part-time economists?

Yes, Sir. Part of the answer was given in reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher). Three of the gentlemen are the Director General of Economic Planning, Mr. Dudley Seers, his Deputy, Mr. Paul Streeten and the head of the World Economy Division, Mr. Robin Marris. Mr. R. S. Porter is to be head of the Geographical Division, and Miss P. Adie is doing part-time research work.

Would my right hon. Friend accept the congratulations of many of us on this side of the House that she has made this wonderful beginning on this job? In view of the importance in small areas of the Commonwealth, like the West Indies, of the actual job of drawing up development plans which will attract trade from both this country and international agencies, would my right hon. Friend make it clear that she hopes eventually to send some of these economists out there to help them draw up their plans?

I can certainly give the assurance for which my hon. Friend asks. I hope in due course to strengthen our overseas representation in the field for that purpose as well.

As these are additional economists, from outside the Civil Service, and as I understand from her Answer that some more have been added since my Question to which the right hon. Lady referred, may I ask whether she can tell the House the additional cost of these gentlemen's salaries to the taxpayer over arid above the normal Civil Service costs?

Details of the salaries of those already appointed were given in the Answer on 9th February. It is impossible for me to give to the hon. Gentleman the total, for the reason that the salaries of the remainder will obviously vary with their qualifications and experience.

On an organisational point, will all these economists be integrated within the geographical department within the right hon. Lady's Ministry, or will they have a separate functional set-up of their own?

It is proposed that the planning units shall have three divisions. In the Geographical Division the economists concerned will work with the operational staff of the Ministry in drawing up plans for different areas of the world and the countries within them. There will also be a World Economy Division and a Statistical Division which w ill be an amplification of the one which existed under the old Department of Technical Co-operation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many more European farms in Kenya have been resettled by African families since the end of June, 1964; what is the average amount of compensation per acre; and how many more farms now remain to be resettled under the Million Acre Scheme.

About 60 European farms have been resettled under the Million Acre Scheme since 1st July, 1964. Purchase of farms under this scheme is on a willing buyer-willing seller basis and no compensation is involved; the average amount paid was about £9 per acre. About 50 farms remain to be bought out under the scheme.

I thank the right hon. Lady for that reply, but can she give us some further information about the remaining small mixed farms, about 1,200, 1 think, which were not included in the Million Acre Scheme, about the remaining compassionate cases, 160 of these, I think, and about the remaining Settlement Board farmers, about 200, I think?

I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman is referring to in the first part of his supplementary question. There are about 100 small mixed farms involved in the O1 Kalou scheme, the application in respect of which was made only recently. I have already announced that we are prepared to make an appropriate sum available for the purchase of farms in future on a compassionate basis, but, as those cases will have to be considered on their merits, it is not possible yet to say how many will be involved.

Is it not a fact that although the Million Acre Scheme has a year or more to run, the money has actually been expended and there will be no more purchases after January of this year unless the right hon. Lady introduces the second phase of the scheme and finances it?

It is not true that the total United Kingdom commitment of £16½ million for the Million Acre Scheme has all been spent. There remain to be purchased about 50 farms under that scheme. The future scheme to which the hon. Gentleman refers is, as he knows, still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when the commission on land resettlement will return from Kenya; and when its report is expected.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the outcome of her review of the extension of the Million Acre Kenya Settlement Scheme.

The mission is returning from Kenya at the end of this week. I will review the position in the light of its Report, which I expect to receive towards the end of April.

Will the right hon. Lady bear in mind the vital importance of speed in this matter? What is at stake is not only the European farming community in Kenya but the stability of the economy. Is the Report likely to be published?

The answer to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is, no. This Report will be confidential. I am fully aware of the need for speed and I have urged the mission, which is returning at the end of this week, to let me have the Report as soon as possible, but I understand that it has collected so much information that it will take a little time to process it all. We would all wish it to give very careful consideration to all the evidence it has acquired.

Would the right hon. Lady agree, in principle at any rate, that the original scheme initiated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) satisfied a need both of European farmers and landless Africans and that extension of it is now desirable, if she can do it and it is recommended in the Report? If she decides on an extension, are there enough officers, both European and African, available in Kenya to advance this aid effectively and to organise properly the settlement of Africans on the farms?

I appreciate the valuable role played by the Million Acre Scheme, and it was because there was clearly a problem remaining that I decided to send out the mission. The detailed point to which the hon. Gentleman referred is one which, I hope, will be covered by the Report.

Is the right hon. Lady also aware that there are other problems, including that of a number of farms which are now abandoned and could be worked if done on a common ranching system with help either by the World dank or her Ministry? Will she add that to one of the solutions which, we hope, she will announce when the mission has reported?

I would rather await the Report and see how far it covers the whole problem in Kenya before making any further commitment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps she is taking to ensure that the maximum amount of technological assistance from British sources is given in connection with potential road development in under-developed territories.

I agree with the hon. Member's implication that technological assistance from Britain is important to road development in underdeveloped countries, and my Department continually seeks ways of increasing the already considerable flow of this assistance.

Will the right hon. Lady bear in mind not only that a road opens up the country and brings trade but, very often, British consultants and British machinery can follow in the wake of it? Also, in the light of all the promises in the Labour Party manifesto, will the right hon. Lady say how much more is to be done this year?

I agree that roads open up a developing country, and assistance in this respect forms an important part of our technical assistance programmes. We shall continue to pursue them.

Is my right hon. Friend prepared to encourage assistance from manufacturers in this country, for instance, motor car manufacturers, who might contribute towards the road development programme?

All contributions from those sources would be very welcome.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what technical assistance and other forms of aid Her Majesty's Government will make available for the fourth Five Year Plan of the Government of India; and, in particular, if she will consider helping the training of industrial designers.

Decisions on the level and form of British aid for the fourth Five Year Plan must await discussions with the Indian Government when they have taken their decisions on the shape and size of the Plan, which is to cover the years 1966–71.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of how much excitement has been caused by the establishment and work of her Ministry in the under-developed countries. Second, will she ensure that we co-operate at every level, including the original design level and the provision of machinery when we create new capital projects in these countries?

I agree entirely that an important part of our aid consists in the training of experts in the recipient country itself, and I shall always do my best to meet any requests from the Government of India that Indian engineers and others should participate in preparing designs and specifications for future projects.

Is the right hon. Lady aware of the bottleneck in technical education aid teacher training in India and does she realise that help in this matter, particularly over audio-visual aids, would be very much appreciated? Could British industry in both the public and the private sector help in the training of instructors and supervisors?

The answer to both those questions is, Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much technical assistance has been given to the Government of Ceylon subsequent to the recent disasters on the island.

No technical assistance specifically related to the damage caused by the cyclone has been given.

With her enthusiasm for technical aid, will the right hon. Lady consider giving help in this particular case because it is one where technical aid is much better than money, and will she bear in mind also that there is great scope for the use of overseas service in Ceylon and try to encourage this?

We give technical assistance only at the request of Governments, and we have not received any request for special technical assistance for this purpose from the Government of Ceylon.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid has been given to the Government of Ceylon since January, 1964.

The Government of Ceylon has made drawings amounting to approximately £600,000 against the 1961 loan for telecommunications equipment and has also received technical assistance to the value of £114,000. The provision of emergency aid worth £26,000 to victims of the cyclone that struck the island in December was announced in the House on 19th January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.

What does the right hon. Lady expect for the coming year? Will she bear in mind in fixing aid for Ceylon that good relations between this country and Ceylon are very desirable, but that it is to be hoped that the Government of Ceylon will bear in mind that its relationships with this country and its interests in Ceylon should also be on a friendly footing?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has made it clear on more than one occasion that he has brought this fact to the attention of the Government of Ceylon, but, as it happens, no new programmes of assistance are in prospect.

Will the right hon. Lady undertake that when she next discusses aid to Ceylon she will take the opportunity of pointing out the hardship being experienced by those who have given their working lives and capital to help Ceylon and who are now entirely dependent on income from Ceylon for a pension or a livelihood?

I have already covered that in my previous answer. In any case, as I have said, no new programmes of assistance are in prospect, so the question does not arise.

In the coming year, will the right hon. Lady consider in particular the difficulties of the hill school at Nuwara Eliya?

I will certainly look into that.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made in her plans to increase the opportunities for overseas voluntary service.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made in her plans to aid underdeveloped countries and stimulate the natural instinct of young people in this country towards public service by increasing the opportunities for voluntary service overseas.

The target which the voluntary bodies have agreed to aim at this year is 1,600 volunteers, 1,200 of them graduate or qualified volunteers and 400 school leavers—cadets. This represents an increase of 735 over the figure for last year. The voluntary bodies are hard at work selecting volunteers and the final figures will not be known for some months.

Are the Government to give more financial assistance to Voluntary Service Overseas? Second, by how many does the hon. Gentleman think the numbers will increase next year?

As regards the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I think that we ought to take it year by year and see how we go in this forthcoming year. As regards financial assistance, the present year's programme is subsidised to the extent of 50 per cent. from Government funds, and for next year's programme this has been stepped up to 75 per cent.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Answer he has just given is received with great satisfaction on these benches, and we are particularly gratified to learn what a speedy increase has been made in the past three or four months? It is a remarkable achievement.

I thank my hon. Friend for what he says and I take it as a credit to the Department, but it should be noted that these efforts are not just Government efforts but are the efforts of the voluntary societies, particularly V.S.O. We are very grateful for all they are doing.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the main reason why we have this large and gratifying increase in the numbers going out is that our plans for this year were announced and the financial arrangements were made 12 months ago? We then set a target of 1,300, which, I am glad to see, it has been possible to increase to 1,600. Will the hon. Gentleman give most careful consideration to announcing now the targets for September of next year, bearing in mind that, if the plans had not been made a year ago, we should not have had this increase, and we shall not have a similar increase next year if nothing is done well in advance?

No one wishes to belittle what the right hon. Gentleman did during his term of office, but I hope that he will not belittle what my right hon. Friend, in the early days of her office, has been able to do in bringing about this substantial and important increase. I shall certainly bear in mind what the right hon. Gentleman suggests about advance announcement of future plans.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why she discussed family planning with the Governments of India and Pakistan.

asked Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on her discussions on family planning during her recent visit to India and Pakistan.

Both Governments have adopted family planning as an essential part of their development planning and attach great importance to it. I obtained useful information from them on their plans and informed them of our willingness to help and to examine sympathetically any requests they might put to us for technical assistance in this field.

How much will it cost? Will some aid be conditional upon this system being adopted by these countries?

No, I would certainly not make it a condition of aid. We have made our position quite clear. It is that we stand ready to give technical assistance in this field at the request of Governments but that we feel that this is something in which they should have freedom of choice. It is impossible to say what the cost will be.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that many of us welcome very much the interest that the Government of India are showing in this matter? Will she use her good offices to try to persuade the World Health Organisation also to take a more active interest?

I was very much struck by the concern of the Indian Government with this problem and with the steps they are taking to deal with it. I will certainly give consideration to what my hon. Friend said about the W.H.O.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the Indian population is increasing at the rate of over 1 million a month and that anything she can do to help solve this problem, particularly by the provision of mobile clinics in States like Mahratta, will be very much appreciated?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the support he is giving us in this matter. The provision of mobile clinics is one of the forms of technical assistance that we will bear in mind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether Her Majesty's Government intend to honour the undertakings given by their predecessors in Chapter IV of the Report of the Central Africa Conference 1963, Cmnd. 2093.

Yes, Sir.

As the talks were discontinued on the formation of the right hon. Lady's Ministry and the arrival of the present Government in office, will she ask the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Lord Chancellor, who are at present in Rhodesia, to make it clear that they will be happy to continue these talks about aid?

As it happens, exploratory financial talks with officials of the Government of Rhodesia began in London today.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent the receipt of Government subsidy has obliged the Voluntary Overseas Organisation to change its objects and methods.

Not at all, so far as I am aware. I certainly would not wish to alter the essentially voluntary basis of the scheme, which I believe greatly appeals to countries receiving volunteers from Britain.

Has not some of the enthusiasm been dissipated owing to the fact that the original founders have felt obliged to resign because they consider that the movement has become bureaucratised, that the service is being absorbed into the civil administration of the British Council and that the difficult tasks in difficult countries are now disapproved of and frowned upon by the Government?

The figures I gave in reply to an earlier Question show that enthusiasm has not by any means abated. The organisation rightly accepted the services of the British Council and I do not think that any of the difficulties to which the hon. and learned Gentleman has referred are really arising.

On a slightly different aspect-will the hon. Gentleman agree that Voluntary Service Overseas is of great value to those giving this service as well as to those at the receiving end?

That is certainly true. This is a two-way benefit—to the developing countries themselves and to those who go out there to help and thereby gain useful experience. The hon. Gentleman used the familiar phrase "Voluntary Service Overseas". I point out that that is the name of only one of four organisations all engaged in this valuable work.

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the enthusiasm of founders such as Alan Dickson remains untarnished?

I expect to see Mr. Dickson quite soon. He will get an enthusiastic reception from me and I expect him to reciprocate.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what communication she has received from the United Nations in respect of the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the Special Fund for the year 1965.

As I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th February, the British contribution for 1965 will be $1·75 million more than the contribution in 1964. Both Mr. Owen, the Executive Chairman of the Technical Assistance Board, and Mr. Hoffman, the Managing Director of the Special Fund, have publicly expressed their appreciation of the increase.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we on these benches are gratified that the Government, despite the economic situation inherited from their predecessors, have been able to make this substantial increase, which will be of great encouragement to other Governments, in spite of the fact that the United States has not yet been able to make a pledge?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. It was our intention by this step to reaffirm our belief in the work of the United Nations in this direction.

The right hon. Lady should know how much we on this side of the House welcome the increase. Is she aware that she is, in fact, honouring a pledge given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) last year at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development?

The right hon. Member for Bexley gave a pledge but did not quantify it. We have agreed to make a specific increase of 17½ per cent. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman would have done as much had he remained in office.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that our previous increase in the year before that was 25 per cent.?

The right hon. Gentleman is quite wrong.

It was two years ago.

No increase was made by the Conservative Government last year.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what are the main forms of aid to Pakistan; and what changes she has proposed as a result of her recent visit.

We give Pakistan both technical and capital assistance. During my visit I discussed with the Pakistan authorities their needs for technical assistance which are becoming increasingly sophisticated. These discussions will greatly help me in ensuring the availability in Britain of the facilities needed. I was also asked about the possibility of our providing more consultancy services and I am pursuing this.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that although the needs are more sophisticated, the major needs in Pakistan still remain rural and village development schemes? Will she give special assistance to the co-operatives, which had their home in the Punjab between the wars, in order to ensure that when the Pakistan Government finishes its third five-year plan, which is now in progress, that sector of the economy will receive a full measure of support from her technical assistance resources?

I agree that agriculture is a very important part of Pakistan's problem. I made it quite clear that we were ready to give any assistance in this respect which might be found valuable. Certain suggestions have been put to us which are being followed up. I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said about co-operatives.

Will the right hon. Lady bear in mind that Pakistan is our treaty ally in C.E.N.T.O. and is becoming increasingly worried about the amount of military aid given to India and expects that aid to be matched in some degree?

Questions of military aid are not for my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions she has had with voluntary organisations concerning more effective co-operation to ensure public support for the aims of the United Nations Development Decade.

I had a valuable discussion in January with a number of voluntary organisations. Proposals have been drawn up for greater co-operation between the various organisations concerned in this work and are now under discussion. I hope that they will be acceptable to all concerned.

When does my hon. Friend expect a decision to be reached and in what form will it be published? What assistance does he expect the Government to be able to give the voluntary agencies concerned with this work?

The working party which is examining this question will be meeting again this week. I should prefer to await the outcome of that meeting before answering my hon. Friend's first question. I should not like to enter into any commitment about support before the discussions are concluded, but we stand ready to be as helpful in this matter as we possibly can.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action she has taken to give effect to the recommendation of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting last year that a Commonwealth Medical Conference should be held.

All Commonwealth Governments have agreed to this proposal and it is planned to hold the conference in Edinburgh from 4th to 13th October this year. The purpose of the conference will be to consider the existing methods and schemes of mutual co-operation between Commonwealth countries in the field of medicine and to make recommendations regarding the ways in which this co-operation can be strengthened and extended.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the satisfaction which will be shared by both sides of the House with this announcement, which is further evidence of the energy in her Ministry? Will unofficial medical bodies be able to take part in this most important Commonwealth conference?

My hon. Friend is quite right. This is further evidence of the importance which we attach to Commonwealth co-operation in all these things. I think that we will have a very valuable conference. The unofficial bodies will be able to take Dart and we hope that the medical profession in Britain will be represented.

Having regard to the right hon. Lady's many duties, has she experienced the need for a Minister of State to assist her?

The thoroughness with which we are now supervising the management of aid and the planning of aid means that we could do with additional help.

Is the right hon. Lady aware of how much pleasure it gives us on this side of the House to see her implementing our plans, including even that for the venue of the conference at Edinburgh?

I am sorry that some of these plans which the right hon. Gentleman keeps mentioning were not brought into operation under his régime.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will consider setting up an Overseas Development Service to assist in satisfying the demands for technical assistance made to her Department.

I am engaged in a thoroughgoing review of our recruitment for technical assistance overseas. It includes all practicable suggestions for more adequately satisfying the increasing demands made upon us.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us when we can expect the results of this review? Is he aware that all technical assistance is now so specialised that we must try to attract to the service people who will devote a lifetime to work in the service of developing countries, because this is of maximum benefit? What can we expect to hear further about this?

I entirely accept what the hon. Gentleman says about the importance of this work. However, because of the complexity of the review, it is not possible to give a date on which it can be expected to be concluded.

Can my hon. Friend say how easy or difficult he is finding it to fill these posts with suitable people? Is his Ministry now considering opening offices similar to the Middle East Development Commission in other parts of the world, notably Africa and South America?

It is not easy to give an overall answer, because it is easier in certain professions than in others. For instance, we are experiencing great difficulty with the medical profession. I have nothing to say at the moment about my hon. Friend's second question.

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not exclude from his review the needs of the countries of Latin America.

The review I mention was about recruitment, not the needs of overseas countries. We are separately making a review of the action needed in that respect and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that Latin America is not outside our consideration.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many new overseas posts in British High Commissions and Embassies have now been created to be held by members of her Department.

Overseas development posts in British High Commissions and Embassies are on the establishment of the Diplomatic Service, but arrangements exist for officers from my Department to be seconded to the Diplomatic Service to fill these posts. There are at present five such seconded officers. These are in addition, of course, to the much larger number of diplomatic service officers who are specially concerned with aid.

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for that reply. However, during the coming year, does she anticipate being able to second more officers from her Department to these overseas posts? If not, will there be direct representation from these overseas posts to her or through the Foreign Office or Commonwealth Relations Office?

I certainly hope during the coming months to increase the number of officers in my Department who will be seconded for this work at important receiving points in the developing countries. Even where these posts are filled as part of the Diplomatic Service, we are in close direct touch with those officers who are working full-time on matters concerned with aid.

Would it not be a graceful gesture by the right hon. Lady towards her former comrades on the Left-wing of the Labour Party, and would it not help the unity of the Labour Party, if she recommended some of her colleagues for these posts?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the appointment of educational attachés, particularly in Africa, where technical education has been so badly neglected?

I do not think it would be right to appoint separate educational attaches, but the needs of education are certainly kept under review by the officers who are seconded by my Department.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proportion of bilateral United Kingdom Government aid granted in the last two accounting years has been taken up and spent by the developing countries.

It is not possible to say exactly what proportion of the commitments made in a given period lead to disbursements in th0at period. Commitments made in any one year may result in expenditures over several following years. In the calendar years 1962 and 1963, the latest for which figures are available, total disbursements amounted to 73 per cent. and 96 per cent. respectively of the total commitments made in those years.

I thank the right hon. Lady for that Answer. May I inquire whether the shortfall is due to a lack of goods and services for export from the United Kingdom or to the shortcomings of what might be described as the digestive system of the beneficiary countries? On the future, in the light of the recent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of public expenditure for the coming year and the pressure on resources which this is likely to generate, does the right hon. Lady expect that we shall be able to export the full amount of goods and services in aid without easing the pressure on home demand?

As I said in my reply, there is not an exact relationship between the two figures which I gave. It is, therefore, impossible under our present statistical arrangements to estimate the shortfall. I am considering what improvements we can make in our financial statistics to enable us to have a clearer picture of the position.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what changes she proposes to make in the terms of Great Britain's financial aid to the developing countries.

The review of our aid programme, including the terms of aid, is proceeding satisfactorily, though I cannot yet give a date for its completion. I shall certainly publish a White Paper on the work of the Department in due course.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what criteria she adopts in establishing priorities between competing requests for aid by developing countries.

So far as requests for aid constitute competing claims on our resources, the main criteria are the relative needs of the recipients and the prospects of the effective use of the aid.

Can the right hon. Lady indicate whether these criteria represent a change from the criteria applied by the previous Government, and, if they do, what effect she anticipates they will have on the distribution of aid between different countries? Secondly, can she say at what level consultation takes place between her Department and the overseas Departments in making these decisions?

Owing to the division of responsibilities for overseas aid among so many different Departments under the previous Administration, it is very difficult to make out exactly what criteria were being followed. On the question of consultation with the overseas Departments, I keep in close touch with them in the application of our aid policies.

Is the right hon. Lady aware of the important part played in the past by private enterprise investment and that the suggested Corporation Tax, affecting detrimentally double taxation agreements, may have a very detrimental effect on that investment?

Those points arise on a later Question.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has met the Leader of the Opposition in the last two months to discuss defence matters; and what was the outcome of such discussions.

The right hon. Gentleman and I are in touch about the possibilities of continuing consultation.

Is my right hon. Friend seized of the need for urgency in this matter? Does he agree that if the knowledge of the Leader of the Opposition on defence is as inadequate as his knowledge of economic matters there is not a moment to be lost?

There has been no suggestion of meetings of this kind about economic affairs. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition will agree that we had quite a constructive talk last week.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that in addition to Privy Councillors there are some backbench Members who would like to be informed on these matters? Will he think in broader terms and try to keep the House informed generally rather than a few select people on either side of it?

I am sure that the Defence White Paper published today will add greatly to the information on defence matters for all hon. Members, and that the defence debate, when it takes place, will go even further in that direction.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance to the Government of India that in the event of that country being invaded by armed forces the British Government will give both military and economic aid independent of the action of the United Nations.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to the Question put by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 4th February. Any action we should take in such circumstances would be in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and would, we hope, be supported by the Organisation.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to give an assurance that in certain circumstances we would be able to act before any sanction was given by the United Nations?

As far as our arrangements with Commonwealth countries are concerned, I think that we have always shown our readiness, ability and willingness to act on conditions which are fully consonant with the Charter of the United Nations.

May I ask my right hon. Friend what commitment the previous Government made in this connection? Was it not my right hon. Friend himself who put forward the proposal for military aid on a lend-lease basis at the time of Chinese aggression? Would he also confirm that it was the previous Government which delayed for 18 months in granting credits for frigates for India which she desperately needed?

A good part of the history outlined by my hon. Friend is undoubtedly true. But, as far as assurances and commitments are concerned, it has always been understood that this country stands ready to lend assistance to Commonwealth countries threatened from outside.

The Prime Minister will agree, I take it, that if we are thinking in these terms at all, we are the judges of what commitments we undertake at any time and that there is nothing like an automatic guarantee in his mind?

Certainly that is the position. But, as in the case of Malaysia, which is a separate question, we have shown that we felt it right to act in accordance with our undertakings to Malaysia.

Of course, we had a treaty with Malaysia.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance to the Government of the Federation of Malaysia that in the event of that country being invaded by armed forces the British Government will give both military and economic aid independent of the actions of the United Nations.

Under the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement we have undertaken to afford Malaysia such assistance as she may require for the external defence of her territory. This undertaking is currently being honoured. No further assurance is called for.

Will the Prime Minister say whether his statement "such weapons as she may require" includes all weapons under the command of the British Government?

The phrase which I used was, "such assistance as she may require". We are giving Malaysia all the assistance she has called for and requires in present circumstances.

The right hon. Gentleman did not understand the trend of my supplementary question. Are we prepared to commit all weapons under British command to the defence of Malaysia?

:Whether I understood the trend of the supplementary question or not, I answered it as it was put. I cannot at this stage discuss hypothetical circumstances. We shall give Malaysia whatever help is necessary to preserve her territorial integrity against aggression.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any progress has been made, or whether any progress which he can report has been made, in the attempt to mediate in this issue?

As I indicated last week, a lot of discussions are going on and it might not be helpful to go into too much detail about them at this time. The word "mediate" might easily be misunderstood. As I said last week, there is no question, as far as I can understand, of asking Malaysia to do anything. Malaysia has not been committing aggression. This is a straight question of infiltration into Malaysian territory by a country which, so far, does not recognise the existence of Malaysia and has gone to extreme lengths, such as resigning from the United Nations, because of that fact. This war—perhaps that is the wrong phrase—the fighting could stop immediately if Malaysia were recognised. Having said that, we are, of course, prepared to help in any way we can to bring the fighting to an end. A number of friendly countries in Asia have offered their services in this respect, but, as I said last week, we must not get into the position of ourselves negotiating on behalf of Malaysia, because Malaysia is an independent Commonwealth country. We must not give the impression that she is in any sense a colonial dependant of Britain.

asked the Prime Minister if he will bring agriculture in Wales within the executive authority of the Secretary of State for Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to his Question on 16th February.

Is the Prime Minister aware that so far the new office of Secretary of State for Wales is more remarkable for the functions which have been excluded than for those which have been included? In particular, can he say why agriculture was not included in view of the fact that there are so many special difficulties and features of farming in parts of Wales which do not always obtain in other parts of the United Kingdom?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend and his colleagues are very much concerned with anything that can be done to help with the special problems of Wales. I am sure that when the hon. Member thinks this matter over, he will not feel that it would be right for us to cut off entirely from the Minister of Agriculture responsibility for agriculture in Wales and that we should not want to have three separate agricultural price reviews taking place.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that there is a Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture stationed in Wales and that some of the Welsh agricultural civil servants come under him, whereas others seem to come directly under the Ministry in London? Would it not be far better to have them all under one Permanent Secretary who should be under the Secretary of State for Wales, as is the position in Scotland?

In answer to a Question by the hon. and learned Member some time ago, I said why it was felt by the Government, and, I think, by anyone who has studied the question, that the Scottish solution was not the right one in relation to Wales. As to agriculture, there are many services available to the Ministry of Agriculture which are extremely helpful in the Welsh situation and it would be a pity to cut them off and handle them separately.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is still his policy to merge the Commonwealth Relations and Colonial Offices next July.

It is our intention to merge these two Offices in due course. My right hon. Friends are already considering ways of integrating certain parts of their organisations which deal with similar work; but next July is too soon for a complete merger.

Would the Prime Minister care to acknowledge that the delay in implementing this merger, which has been agreed for July and is clearly a sensible and desirable move, arises simply and solely from the fact that the right hon. Gentleman himself thought it expedient to appoint two Secretaries of State to do the work of one in the last Administration?

The hon. Member is entitled to his opinion; he will not expect others to share it. The former Secretary of State was recognised by the whole House as one of the most hard-working Ministers whom one could possibly have and yet there were times, as, I think, the House will agree, when, because of his necessary preoccupation with one country which he had to visit, other important questions, either from Colonial Territories or from Commonwealth countries, had to be postponed and deferred for quite a long time, with a result that was not very helpful. If one takes the present situation, I am sure that the House will agree that it is vitally important that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations should be this week in Rhodesia. It is equally important that the Colonial Secretary should be handling the preparations for the Aden situation, which are equally urgent.

While not accepting the Prime Minister's criticisms, may I ask whether he is aware that with the shrinking responsibilities of the Colonial Office there is considerable feeling of uncertainty and anxiety among the officials and that it is, therefore, extremely important to clear up their future careers as quickly as possible?

I thought that my remarks about the right hon. Gentleman were anything but critical. We are, of course, working towards clearing up the situation. When my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary was appointed, he was told that his job was to work himself out of a job, and that is what he is in process of doing. I am aware of certain uncertainties in this field, but, of course, the creation by the previous Government of a single Overseas Service is extremely valuable in this connection.

Will my right hon. Friend make haste quite slowly in this matter? Is he aware that many of the smaller colonial dependencies are glad to have their own Ministry back again, because they have more direct access to immediate decisions by the Government? Will he, secondly, make haste slowly because many of us who concentrate on trying to help certain areas of the world are happy to have a Minister who is regularly in this country when his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations might well be abroad?

Without committing myself in detail to every word of my hon. Friend's advice, I would propose to make haste at what seems to be an appropriate speed.

asked the Prime Minister the total number of aircraft workers and those of ancillary trades whose jobs are threatened by Her Majesty's Government's decision to cancel HS681; and what provision he is making to provide alternative employment in the Coventry and Lutterworth areas together with utilisation of the Bitteswell assembly establishment.

The workers whose jobs are most likely to be threatened by the cancellation of HS681 are those employed by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited. I understand that 1,500 of these were employed, directly or indirectly, on this project at the time of cancellation, and this total would have risen to about 4,500 by the end of this year had the project not been cancelled.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that these are highly-skilled aircraft makers and that their employment in any other capacity would be largely wasted? Secondly, can the right hon. Gentleman recall his pre-election promise that he would continue to maintain British aircraft production and, moreover, would place Britain in the forefront of technological advance?

Yes, Sir, and that is what we are doing. It is not done by continuing with projects, which, owing to the time scale adopted by the previous Government and the delays, cannot be delivered by the time they are needed. As to these two factories, the hon. Member will be aware that no decision has been taken in respect of the second one mentioned by him and that since the debate in the House, some quite sizeable orders have been announced for the Hawker Siddeley Company in the matter of aircraft required by the Services. Obviously, we cannot instruct the company which factories, if any, need to be closed, but we certainly insist that its closure policy should have relation not only to economic but to social considerations and to the availability of alternative employment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the severance pay which was yesterday offered by Hawker Siddeley is totally inadequate? In these circumstances, will he ask his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to use his good offices to ensure that severance pay is equitable?

Yes, I have seen reports of the severance pay which has been offered. It is not for me to comment upon its adequacy. In the case of another industry which in the past few years has been run down very much more rapidly than has been the case, or looks like being the case, with aircraft, very generous severance terms were worked out by agreement with both sides of industry. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour would be prepared to offer his help, advice and guidance to see that similar conditions apply.

asked the Prime Minister what official journeys abroad he proposes to take during the next three months.

The dates for my visits to West Berlin, Bonn and Paris have been announced. As has also been announced, I hope fairly soon to visit Rome but the date for this visit has not yet been fixed.

While realising that the Prime Minister cannot say very much at this stage about these visits to Germany on 6th March and to President de Gaulle on 1st April—I hope that there is no significance in the date—may I ask whether he can give an assurance, so that there is no misunderstanding, that he will keep our allies fully informed about these conversations?

Yes, Sir. This has already been the case, and indeed, so far as certain subjects to be discussed are concerned, this is part of the general inter-allied consultation so that we can all move forward as fast as possible together in agreement on the policies that we shall be discussing.

When my right hon. Friend goes to Bonn, will he recall that the extraordinary pledge given by the previous Government, whereby this country is committed to keeping four divisions in Germany until the end of the century, was originally given to gratify the French Government? Will he therefore combine these operations and raise this matter with President de Gaulle when he goes there, and ask the President whether he would like to take over some of these obligations?

It is going to be rather difficult to be in both places at the same time. I think that the discussions with each country will be sufficiently difficult in respect of certain of the problems that we have before us without making them triangular in character.

Can the Prime Minister say why he has not included in his itinerary a visit to the capital of one of the E.F.T.A. countries?

I hope it will not be too long before I do. The Question referred to the next three months. I have already met and received an official visit from the Prime Minister of Norway. The Prime Minister of Sweden visited this country in December, and I had long talks with him. The Prime Minister of Denmark has been here, and is coming again, so we are in very close communication. This afternoon I am meeting the Vice-Chancellor of Austria, and I think I can say that we are in very close consultation with the E.F.T.A. countries.