HC Deb 11 April 1968 vol 762 cc1560-2
9. Mr. Braine

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many meetings with representatives of British business interests in Singapore and Malaysia were held either in this country or on the spot by the senior officials of his Department who recently twice visited these countries and had talks with the Governments of Singapore and Malaysia to discuss Her Majesty's Government's offer of additional aid to compensate for the accelerated withdrawal of United Kingdom forces.

Mr. Prentice

It is not possible to give an exact figure but a number of such meetings have been held both in London and in the two countries, including several with representatives of the Confederation of British Industries.

Mr. Braine

While I am glad to hear that some meetings have been held, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that there has been a great deal of criticism in business circles in Singapore and Malaysia that contact was not made by the Dudley Mission with established British firms which are in a very good position to advise how aid should be suitably employed after the British defence withdrawal?

Mr. Prentice

When Sir Alan Dudley went to Singapore and Malaysia in October last year and again in February-March this year, he was concerned with talking to the Governments of those countries. He was concerned with talking to them about Government-Government relationships; he had a very busy programme, and he concentrated on talks with Governments. But apart from that, there have been a large number of meetings, both in London and in those countries, with very important companies about the part which private enterprise can play in the future.

Mr. Dalyell

Did Sir Alan Dudley or did he not meet British firms? There is an impression abroad that they were neglected.

Mr. Prentice

During the two visits to which I referred, he concentrated on talks with the two Governments concerned, and I am sure that that was right. But other representatives of Her Majesty's Government have talked to business interests in the two countries concerned and to the British offices of British firms who have businesses out there.

Mr. Braine

I must press the matter. While I acknowledge that there have been some meetings with British business interests who approached Sir Alan Dudley when he went out there, they were told at the time that the discussions were such that he could see no usefulness in discussing the matter with British business interests. That seems to me wholly wrong, in view of the fact that British aid is to be offered to these countries and that British interests out there are obviously in a very good position to advise how it should be used.

Mr. Prentice

I have already indicated that there has been a great deal of contact with British firms and the C.B.I. about the whole question, but I must reiterate that during the two missions mentioned, Sir Alan Dudley and his colleagues were very busy talking on a Government-Government basis about the pooling of aid, the terms of aid and a number of other difficult and complicated questions which had to be settled.