§ 17. Mr. Healeyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will consult other Commonwealth Governments with a view to establishing a Commonwealth technical service.
§ Mr. SandysMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, has been considering the recommendation in the Fourth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates for the establishment of a Commonwealth Advisory and Technical Service and he hopes to inform the House of his conclusions next month.
§ Mr. HealeyWhile welcoming that information, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the East African countries, which will shortly all come under his Department, are likely to suffer extremely dangerous damage through the mass exodus of European technicians and civil servants unless some steps are taken soon to guarantee these people security of service? There seems to be no way of guaranteeing that security except in the context of some general Commonwealth scheme.
§ Sir G. NicholsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the fact that the recommendations of the Estimates Committee are being so closely considered will bring great encouragement to its members?