HC Deb 01 February 1966 vol 723 cc879-80
Q3. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Prime Minister what is now Her Majesty's Government's policy as regards financial and technical aid to countries which have broken off diplomatic relations with Great Britain; and whether he will make a statement.

Q9. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Prime Minister if he will cut off all aid to those countries that have broken off diplomatic relations with Great Britain.

The Prime Minister

As to the Commonwealth countries concerned, I would refer hon. Members to the Answer I gave on 27th January to a Question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and, as to non-Commonwealth countries where our aid programme is much smaller, we are con- tinuing to give technical assistance and meeting our formal commitments for capital aid to the extent that the necessary administrative arrangements are still possible.

Mr. Kershaw

Whilst appreciating that humanitarian and, indeed, practical considerations arise in this matter, may I ask whether the Prime Minister realises that some of these aid programmes, such as the military ones, are in a different category and will he take a look at them?

The Prime Minister

Yes, I agree that there is a difference as regards military programmes compared with economic programmes, though here, where particularly our Canadian colleagues are very much involved, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, when he thinks about it deeply, will realise that there may be very serious difficulties and risks in even doing anything about them.

Brigadier Clarke

Does the Prime Minister realise that these countries only bite the hand that feeds them? [Interruption.] Will you do a little more to try to help your own kith and kin, instead of these people?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must not put questions to me.

The Prime Minister

In answer to the first part of the question, I did explain on previous occasions the reasons why I think it is right, subject to all the difficulties which are caused by the breaking up of relations, to keep on our teaching assistance programmes and other forms of economic assistance. Unfortunately, I could not quite hear the last three or four words of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question.

Mr. Rose

Will my right hon. Friend go a little further than his previous reply and state that economic and technical aid will in future not be given with political considerations in mind?

The Prime Minister

I think that it has always been the line of successive Governments in this country—and, indeed, it has been the line certainly of the United Nations—that, when an effort is made to link economic aid which is based on sheer human necessity to political strings, both the economic aid and, in the long run, the political aims one has in mind are injured.