HC Deb 27 November 1969 vol 792 cc597-8
19. Mr. W. H. K. Baker

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many requests she has received, and from which Governments, in the past two years, for agricultural technical advisers, machinery, seeds and fertilisers.

Mrs. Hart

Over the last two years 311 requests from nearly 70 countries have been accepted for agricultural staff —including technical advisers. Commitments totalling £2.2 million have been made for agricultural production requisites and a further £2.8 million for processing, marketing and storage.

Mr. Baker

Would the Minister agree that this is a highly satisfactory state of affairs? Could she give an undertaking that such aid is in the best interests of the British taxpayer and of the recipients in the country to which the aid goes?

Mrs. Hart

I do not regard it as at all unsatisfactory. A few moments ago we were talking about bilateral aid, but we also make a very large contribution to the Food and Agricultural Organisation. Our multilateral aid is able to help a very great deal in the purposes in which the hon. Gentleman is interested.

Mr. Carter-Jones

I agree with what the Minister has said, but would she not agree that if one takes the figure of the agricultural technical advisory service and adds to it the consultants who advise people on the best agricultural and technical methods of improving their production in an industrial sense, this indirectly helps our own export trade?

Mrs. Hart

That is a valid point. I assure the House that we undertake an enormous amount of overseas development expenditure in terms of skilled expert advice and technical assistance as well as in terms of cash project programmes. In addition to our cash contributions to multilateral programmes, we are one of the foremost countries in the scale and expertise of advice.

Mr. Braine

Would the Minister agree that it is in agriculture overseas that the most specific results have been achieved in the last few years, where the results have been truly amazing? Is there not need for much more information to be made available? Could not her Department publish some special facts and figures showing our contribution to this important development?

Mrs. Hart

I should be delighted to consider the suggestion. There is a very great deal that is not known about this subject. Many hon. Members in the House would be happy to hear about the matter as would many people outside.