§ 23. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what assistance has been given to the Government of Mauritius in the field of technical education during the years 1962 to 1964.
Mr. CarrI understand that the Mauritius Government are building from their own funds a technical institute and a secondary technical school. They have so far asked for little assistance from my Department and have informed me that they do not wish to apply for a grant from the technical education allocation of funds provided under the Commonwealth Development Act, 1963.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill the Minister consider making an offer of assistance to Mauritius in view of the serious seasonal unemployment problem and the serious lack of technically qualified people to try to help to diversify the country's economy? Will the Minister have consultations with the authorities there to see how they can be helped?
Mr. CarrI am certainly not wishing to criticise the Mauritius Government, but the fact remains that an offer was available to them under the Colonial Development Act, of which they did not wish to take advantage. My education adviser has, however, recently been to Mauritius, where he has discussed these problems.