HC Deb 17 June 1959 vol 607 c424
34. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the amount of aid from all sources, for which Her Majesty's Government has some responsibility, given to Laos since the Geneva Agreements.

Mr. R. Allan

United Kingdom aid to Laos under the technical co-operation scheme of the Colombo Plan was approximately £30,000 from July, 1954, to 31st March, 1959.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Under-Secretary of State for that Answer, may I ask if it is possible to speed up that aid in this area? Is he aware that some of us were informed by the technical aid people that the Colombo Plan authorities at the moment are failing to follow up the technical aid after it has been given, and that thereby it is nullified?

Mr. Allan

We are trying at the moment to see if we can put more money through the Colombo Plan for this kind of work. I have not heard about these complaints the hon. Member mentioned, but I should like to look into them.