§ 2. Mr. William Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on the execution of the agreement with Commonwealth countries for technical assistance to South-East Asia.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Commonwealth Consultative Committee which met at Sydney in May recommended that a Commonwealth technical assistance scheme should be inaugurated within the next few months and that a bureau should be set up at Colombo to co-ordinate the work. In pursuance of this recommendation a standing committee of officials is at present meeting in Colombo to prepare a report on how the scheme in general and the bureau should work. This report will be considered at the next meeting of the Commonwealth Consultative Committee. The Standing Committee will also deal with day to day questions connected with the provision of technical assistance until such time as the proposed bureau is formally established.
§ Mr. WellsMay I ask whether there has been any particular agreement with the Australian Government since May on this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterI should have to have notice of that question.