§ 13. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Technical Co-operation what plans he has for increasing the number of experts working in Latin America; and what further visits are being arranged by his Department's professional advisers.
Mr. CarrIf recruitment is successful I hope the number of experts in Latin America will rise to 70 during the coming year, compared with about 35 at the moment. Further visits by two of my Department's professional advisers have already been arranged.
§ Mr. DigbyWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask if 70 is not rather a small number to make an impression on 208 million people? Will my right hon. Friend hear in mind that this is a part of the world where British help is particularly welcome and useful?
Mr. CarrI am glad of my hon. Friend's interest in this part of the world. It is only in the last two years that our technical assistance programmes have been extended to this region and that we have been able to pay attention to this matter, but I hope that this is only a beginning.