§ Q3. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Prime Minister if he will merge the Ministry of Commonwealth Affairs with the Ministry of Overseas Development.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. KingDoes not this Ministry already contain more Ministers than ever before, and why should Overseas Development of all Ministries bear so needlessly a top-heavy burden?
§ The Prime MinisterIn dissociating the aid and development Department from the Commonwealth Office, which I think was wise, we followed the practice of our predecessors. Though the Ministry of Overseas Development is now organised on somewhat different lines, it is based on the same principles of separation. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that the Overseas Development Ministry is responsible for aid and development to non-Commonwealth countries, and is also responsible for our relationship with most of the principal 1286 international and technical assistance organisations, including U.N.E.S.C.O. and others.
§ Mr. Francis Noel-BakerArising out of my right hon. Friend's reply, would he not agree that there are many non-Commonwealth countries where the need and desire for British technical and financial assistance is just as great as in Commonwealth countries, and some of them where the conditions for harmonious and uninhibited co-operation are much better?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are very many cases where we would like to be able to give more help. It is a question of the limits, of what is available, and we believe that our present deployment. which is mainly, though not exclusively. concentrated on Commonwealth countries, shows about the right balance of priorities.