HC Deb 23 April 1970 vol 800 cc613-4
17. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will pay an official visit to the Caribbean developing nations.

Mrs. Hart

I should certainly welcome the opportunity to visit the Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean, but I have no early plans for such a visit.

Mr. Fraser

In the absence of a visit, would my right hon. Friend take a careful look at how a combination of both private and official aid could be used to increase employment opportunities in these countries where there is a high rate of unemployment among the young, and would this not be to the mutual advantage of developing countries and enable this country to use the Caribbean as a springboard for the sale of manufactures to the rest of the Western hemisphere?

Mrs. Hart

One of the most useful contributions we are now about to make in the Caribbean generally in terms of developing countries of the Commonwealth is in the form of the new Caribbean Development Bank to whose funds Britain is contributing and in which we have taken a great initiative. This can be very helpful in the future in giving investment money for the creation of employment opportunities in the Caribbean.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Will the Minister consider the possibility of extending the development area concept which exists in the Caribbean similar to the one in the Middle East? Would she consider extending development area techniques outside these two areas to other areas in the world as recommended by the Estimates Committee so that we can have experts on the spot?

Mrs. Hart

I explained a little earlier that I have now under consideration the extension of this principal. I am considering setting up further development divisions one by one, but I am not yet in a position to make a detailed statement.

Back to