§ 7. Mr. Robert Daviesasked the Minister of Overseas Development why Commonweatlh citizens with the necessary 1561 academic qualifications are precluded from appointment to university posts at British universities under schemes for overseas assistance financed by the Government.
§ Mr. OramThere is no absolute rule about this, but in general we observe the normal international practice of appointing our own citizens under our programmes of technical assistance.
§ Mr. DaviesWould my hon. Friend agree that this involves limitation of academic freedom and that discrimination against Commonwealth citizens very often runs counter to the interests of developing countries?
§ Mr. OramI cannot accept what my hon. Friend says. In general, we hope that the developed Commonwealth countries would be prepared to finance technical assistance programmes for their own citizens in developing countries. I cannot accept that there is any discrimination of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.