§ 31. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has ruled that Hong Kong should not receive assistance from the World Health Organisation for the training of urgently needed medical personnel ; and whether he is aware of the difficulty that has resulted from the cancellation of fellowships that had been arranged two years ago.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe governing principle is that assistance from United Nations Specialised Agencies is designed to meet technical needs which cannot be met from local—or, in the case of dependent territories, metropolitan—resources. It is not intended as an alternative source of financial aid. In all the cases quoted the training can be supplied in the United Kingdom.
1437 In reply to the second part of the Question, the inclusion of these or any other fellowships in World Health Organisation budgets does not imply a commitment by Her Majesty's Government to take them up.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Secretary of State aware that it is proposed to proceed with the building of a much-needed hospital in Hong Kong with 1,300 beds and that this year the number of medical students in training is 33? If the right hon. Gentleman is going to cut off this source of financial assistance for staffing that project, what alternative does he intend to put in its place in order to make sure that there are sufficient medical personnel to run this much-needed hospital?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have to look to priorities in this matter, and the local Government know quite well that the necessary training can be given in the United Kingdom.