§ 6. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans he has or is negotiating in order to aid the development of industry in Nepal.
§ Mr. OramNone, Sir. Some of our aid has been used for purposes such as electricity supply, but the Government of Nepal are not currently asking us for help for industrial development.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWould the hon. Gentleman not agree that there is a need for this aid in Nepal, particularly in view of the service which her people have given us in years gone by and particularly since the amount of money going into the country through pensions and so on is reducing and there is a need for development in the Katmandu area? Would he look at this again?
§ Mr. OramThere is a need for aid, of course, but it was to industrial development that the hon. Gentleman's question was directed, and we consider that our aid would be more useful to Nepal if given in other fields. For example, we have commitments to a large road project, a boys' boarding school and in other ways, and we believe that these have equal or perhaps prior claims on our aid.