§ 10. Mr. Ioan L. Evansasked the Minister of Overseas Development, in view of the interest in the statistics on economic aid published as Appendix B of the White Paper on Overseas Development, showing the nature and size of British aid to developing countries, and their importance in planning future policy, if she will arrange for the regular publication of detailed and up-to-date figures.
§ Mrs. CastleYes, Sir. I am arranging for a full statistical digest to be published annually. The next issue, which will be available early in 1966, will show the position up to the end of 1965 of both financial aid and technical assistance.
§ Mr. EvansWould my right hon. Friend agree that the publication of these valuable statistics is complete justification for the establishment of the statistical department in the Ministry of Overseas Development and will she, in the years ahead, see that money for overseas aid to these territories is given to Ministries other than the Ministry of Defence?
§ Mrs. CastleI am not quite sure whether I understand the implications of the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but, on the first part, I think that the whole House will agree that the very detailed statistical tables given in the White Paper which I introduced in the House in August have given a more comprehensive picture of what is actually happening than we have ever had before and that this is an important basis for decision on policy. That is why we decided to issue annual statistics in a far more comprehensive form than has ever been given to the House before.