HC Deb 04 May 1967 vol 746 cc720-2
24. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what civilian assistance sponsored by his Department will be given to the Government of South Vietnam in 1967–68.

Mr. Bottomley

Present commitments foreshadow expenditure totalling about £155,000 in the current financial year. A senior member of my staff who was in Saigon 10 days ago returned yesterday and will be reporting to me on his discussions there.

Mr. Goodhart

Is the Minister aware that the Foreign Secretary said at the recent meeting of the S.E.A.T.O. Foreign Ministers that we would be making a major contribution in civilian aid? How does the Minister equate that statement with the niggardly sum he has announced?

Mr. Bottomley

We are giving the aid which is required. There is the one hospital there and to the extent that we are able to help we are doing so.

Mr. Maudling

The Minister said that we are giving the aid which is required. That cannot be true. Can he explain to the House the principles on which he determines how much aid to give?

Mr. Bottomley

I have already explained that in the case of the hospital aid was required, and in that case we have given it.

25. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans he has for increasing British assistance to sick and injured children in Vietnam.

Mr. Bottomley

We propose to consolidate and, if possible, expand our activities at the children's hospital in Saigon where the British team is now doing most useful work. Recurrent annual expenditure of about £130,000 makes this relatively a very costly project.

We have built, equipped and staffed a pathological laboratory for the hospital and expect to send more equipment and drugs. Next winter, the team will, we hope, have an additional full-time paediatrician and will then consist of five doctors and six nurses.

Mr. Goodhart

We all appreciate the fine work done by Dr. Evans and his team in Saigon, but does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that very many speeches are made in this country about child casualties in Vietnam, and it is rather shameful that we do not offer more practical assistance?

Mr. Bottomley

We are offering the practical assistance that is wanted, as I have said already.

Dr. David Kerr

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this hospital, which is doing laudable work, fails to cater for the needs of children in many areas of Vietnam under the control of the National Liberation Front, and, further, is he aware that voluntary funds to the tune of more than £5,000 have been contributed by people in this country, through the Medical Aid Committee for Vietnam, to assist those children?

Mr. Bottomley

I am sure that everyone would wish to do all possible to assist the children who are suffering.

Mr. John Hall

Although the right hon. Gentleman may be right in saying that we are giving all we intend to give, is it not complete nonsense to say that we are giving all that is wanted?

Mr. Bottomley

Of course, this is like everyone else—we all want more and more and more—but the requests that have been made of us, having in mind the present requirements, have been met.

Mr. Rose

Would not the best assistance to the children of Vietnam be an effort on the part of Her Majesty's Government to stop the use of the terrible weapons which cause such terrible injuries, and does not my right hon. Friend realise that the assistance which we are giving will not go to most of the children who are suffering from napalm?