§ 2. Mr. Benceasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many students in colleges of technology in African Commonwealth countries are being financed by his Department.
§ The Secretary for Technical Cooperation (Mr. Robert Carr)None, Sir. We give aid to technological training overseas not by grants direct to students but by providing assistance to certain institutions and to the staff serving in them.
§ Mr. BenceWould it not be desirable if Her Majesty's Government could offer scholarships to students in these territories, to encourage greater interest and drive among these people to seek higher education?
§ Mr. CarrWhile, of course, we do, and it is right that we should, offer many scholarships to people to come and train here, it would be rather difficult and tricky in some ways to offer scholarships to students of another country in their own institutions. I think it is better for us and more in accord with the wishes and needs of the developing countries if we help those countries to build up their own institutions and leave them to give such grants as may be necessary to their students.