§ 32. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Council of Ministers at the recent meeting of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation in New Zealand rejected the appeal of the Asian members for increased economic aid.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydIt is not correct to say that the Council of Ministers "rejected the appeal "of the Asian members for increased economic aid. I would refer the hon. Member to the relevant sections of the communiqué issued after the Council meeting, a copy of which I am placing in the Library of the House. This enumerates a considerable number of fields in which action is being taken or is under consideration. Her Majesty's Government were very glad to be able to announce at the meeting that they would make a contribution of £50,000 1026 towards the South East Asia Treaty Organisation Graduate School of Engineering which is due to open in Bangkok in September of this year. I would, however, like to remind the House that Her Majesty's Government's primary instrument of economic aid in the area is the Colombo Plan.
§ Mr. RankinMay I take it from that Answer that the matter is still under consideration and that the right hon. and learned Gentleman may reconsider what has been done, in view of the fact that the small Asian countries feel that more economic aid is necessary if they are to resist the economic offensive which is being waged by the Communist countries against them? Will the Minister keep that point in mind in reconsidering the decision which has been taken?
§ Mr. LloydIn view of that supplementary question, I will, with the permission of the House, say that, under the Colombo Plan Technical Co-operation Scheme, by Export Credits Guarantee Department Section III credits, and by loans from the United Kingdom sterling subscription to the International Bank, our grants of United Kingdom aid to S.E.A.T.O. countries, up to 31st December last year, were more than £16 million. That does not include a further credit to Pakistan, signed on 27th February this year, under the Commonwealth Assistance loan plan.