§ 7. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps are being taken by her Department to publicise voluntary service overseas amongst young people at universities and colleges of further education.
§ Mr. OramA pictorial booklet for circulation in industry and among educational bodies will be ready for distribution in May. A film about volunteers is in an advanced stage of production and should be ready for loan by September.
The Committee on Overseas Service—the Lockwood Committee—of which we are members and to the expenses of which we subscribe, has produced brochures which have been distributed to university appointments boards, colleges of advanced technology, technical colleges, student organisations, and agricultural colleges.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWould the hon. Gentleman think of extending this publicity for the voluntary youth organisations?
§ Mr. OramWe are anxious to spread this publicity in as wide a fashion as possible. I will certainly take the hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestion into account.
§ Mr. James JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that there is a potential field—quite a large field, in my opinion—of young teachers who wish to make exchange visits with their opposite numbers overseas, perhaps in Africa, which would be an excellent thing? Can my hon. Friend tell us what help he is prepared to give in this respect?
§ Mr. OramI think that my hon. Friend will realise that a large number of the volunteers who go overseas are already 1138 engaged in teaching. We welcome this. Any additional help which we can get will also be welcome.
§ Mr. R. CarrCan the hon. Gentleman say what progress is being made with the plans which were set afoot about a year ago for the production of a film on young volunteers to be shown commercially and also for use by British information services overseas?
§ Mr. OramApparently it is not. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would give me notice of that question.
§ 23. Mr. Longbottomasked the Minister of Overseas Development how many industrial apprentices are included in the volunteers currently serving overseas; and how many she anticipates will be included in the 1,600 volunteers who are expected to be serving overseas in the year beginning September, 1965.
§ Mr. LongbottomI hope that the hon. Member is not satisfied with this number. I hope that he will have talks with his hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour to see if it can be increased.
§ Mr. OramI can assure the hon. Member that I am not satisfied. I am most anxious that this side of the recruitment of volunteers should be considerably enhanced. In the discussions over the weekend that I referred to in reply to an earlier Question I emphasised the importance of this field of recruitment.
§ Mr. HamlingIs my hon. Friend aware that those who have taught in technical colleges were certainly unaware of this service until last October?