HC Deb 10 July 1962 vol 662 cc1142-3
Q1. Mr. Prentice

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to coordinate the activities of the various Government Departments concerned with economic aid and technical assistance to developing countries, so as to give practical effect to Her Majesty's Government's decision to support the United Nations Development Decade.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

Arrangements have been made to secure proper co-ordination, both between our own Government Departments, and with other countries. These enable us to participate fully in the development activities of the United Nations and other international bodies.

Mr. Prentice

Will the right hon. Gentleman state clearly that the Government recognise the resolution about the Development Decade as marking a new stage in all this and that they are going to play their part in trying to double the rate of growth in the under-developed countries by 1970? If that is so, is it not one of the first tests of our sincerity that we should accept the new target of 1962 for the Technical Assistance Programme and the Special Fund?

Mr. Butler

The hon. Gentleman was answered by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House——

Mr. Prentice

Mr. Butler

—about reviewing the grants in the autumn and I cannot go further than that. The Question which the right hon. Gentleman has on the Order Paper, addressed to the Prime Minister, deals with co-ordination and I will say, in answer to the first part of it, that we entirely support the statement about the Decade.

Mr. Gaitskell

May we expect, at least in the autumn, and if possible before, a clear statement from the Government indicating what they are going to do in support of the Decade of Development, and bearing in mind the point to which the Leader of the House gave a friendly reply just now, that is to say, the fall in the price of the products of these countries which has benefited us and done considerable harm to them?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. When a review has been made and at the appropriate moment, we shall make a statement.