§ 16. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the progress of preparations for the Commonwealth Education Conference in Canada.
§ Mr. HornbyThe responsibility for the preparations for the Third Commonwealth Education Conference to be held in Ottawa in August this year rests with Canada—the host Government—and the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee. I understand that very satisfactory progress is being made.
The agenda for the Conference will include for review purposes those subjects which were discussed at the Second Conference held in Delhi in 1962, and also new topics such as adult illiteracy, co-operative arrangements for the planning and development of educational institutions and the use of mass media in education.
§ Mr. ThomsonWhile thanking the Minister for that information about the agenda, may I ask if he does not agree that the expansion of educational cooperation inside the Commonwealth is probably one of the most important ways of giving aid to the developing countries of the Commonwealth and also one of the most important ways of creating a sense of community inside the Commonwealth? Will he, therefore, do everything he can from this end to ensure preparation for this Conference so that when it takes place really constructive and expanding decisions can be taken?
§ Mr. HornbyI can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend and others are very well aware of the importance of this. Perhaps he will recall what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 6th February when he told the House that the Government 649 would be putting forward proposals for the expansion and improvement of schemes for educational co-operation.