§ 7. Mr. Millanasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation if be will state the total sums of technical assistance which have now been granted to coun- 166 tries overseas in respect of projects specifically designed to provide work in development areas in this country.
§ 9. Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he will now announce further projects of technical assistance to countries overseas providing work for development districts in Scotland.
Mr. CarrMy Department is mainly concerned with sending experts abroad and bringing students and trainees to this country. There is very little scope in technical assistance programmes for using surplus productive capacity in the United Kingdom. Such use of surplus productive capacity is capital aid and outside the scope of my Department.
§ Mr. LawsonNevertheless, while I appreciate the point, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this kind of activity is one which kills two birds with one stone, as it helps development areas in this country and helps development areas elsewhere? Will he use all his influence to see that this type of aid is stepped up?
Mr. CarrI shall certainly bear that in mind, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already, by action, shown his understanding of that point.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that sending experts abroad and bringing students here on fellowships has led to large orders for British equipment, and that in fact on all the money which we have given for technical assistance, for the Special Fund, and even for the International Bank, we have made a large margin of profit in foreign exchange?
Mr. CarrI very much agree with the right hon. Gentleman, and I appreciate what he says about this. Indeed, in the long run there can be no better aid to British trade, for the development areas and elsewhere than to bring as many people here to train and send as many of our people abroad as possible.