§ 3. Dr. David Kerrasked the Minister of Overseas Development what expenditure was incurred on medical aid to Vietnam in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what form this took.
§ The Minister of Overseas Development (Mr. Reg Prentice)For the last three completed financial years, expenditure on medical experts, equipment and a laboratory in Vietnam and on the training of Vietnamese medical staff in the United Kingdom amounted to £1,700, £8,200 and £86,100, approximately.
§ Dr. KerrIs my right hon. Friend aware that we support this kind of contribution to some kind of resolution of the Vietnamese problem, but is he also aware that those of us who are operating on a charitable level are keenly aware of the deficiencies of what the Government now supply? In particular, is he aware that the problems of malnutrition which are said to reflect the problems in Saigon are not the same as the problem of burns and loss of limbs, particularly among children, in the areas outside the control of the Saigon Government?
§ Mr. PrenticeYes, Sir. Medical aid which we are giving is not related entirely to war casualties among children. The children's hospital in particular deals with war casualties and other ailments. We are attempting to expand our activities there and I hope that we shall be able to announce progress in the coming months.
§ Mr. GoodhartWill the Minister pay tribute to the noble work that is being done by our medical team there and in the children's hospital in particular, where it is doing unique work in South Vietnam?
§ Mr. PrenticeI am very glad to agree with that. A number of professional and lay observers who have been to the hospital have paid tribute to the work being done by our team there.