§ 29. Mr. Mayhewasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what opportunities he provides for British people preparing to reside abroad to train themselves in the social and political background of the countries concerned.
Dr. HillMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, 920 Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies, and the President of the Board of Trade, ensure that members of their staffs who are to serve abroad are as fully informed as possible before departure about the social and political background of the countries to which they are going.
The Departments of my right hon. Friends, and the Central Office of Information, readily supply to private people going abroad background information about the countries where they are to live. In addition, the Government are at present contributing £3,000 annually towards the expenses of Oversea Service, a non-Governmental organisation which runs courses for persons going abroad to prepare them for the conditions which they will find there.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that does not really cover the matter? Has his attention been drawn to the recent speech on the subject by Lord Chandos? Is he aware that the picture of Britain people get overseas is not made primarily by his information services but by British people who go overseas? Will he give every encouragement to such people, perhaps through the appropriate voluntary societies, to inform themselves about the religious and local customs, so as to make a contribution to good relations with this country?
Dr. HillI do most warmly agree with what the hon. Gentleman has said. Whatever part official services may play, it is a small part compared with the part which can be played by those who are going unofficially, for one purpose or another, overseas. This question does give me the opportunity of saying that the Departments concerned are very ready indeed to make available their facilities for giving information which such persons going overseas need.