§ 20. Sir R. Russellasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on a study course sponsored by his Department to be held by the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University for civil servants from developing countries at which it is planned to hold a session on methods for nationalising externally-owned companies.
§ Mr. WoodI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Study Seminar on the State Corporations to be held next month. The Institute is organising this Seminar as part of its teaching programme, but it is not being sponsored by my Department.
§ Sir R. RussellIs my right hon. Friend aware that this will relieve the anxiety of thousands of investors who strongly object to public money being spent on teaching developing countries how to seize their assets, and can he give an assurance that no public moneys are involved in this?
§ Mr. WoodI can assure my hon. Friend that I share his anxiety about this. It did cause me disquiet to see how this Seminar was presented. Certain steps have been taken. I hope that we shall not see this particular matter in this form again.
§ Mrs. HartI am sure the right hon. Gentleman would wish to make it clear that on this particular course decisions were made some time ago—the decisions to which he referred; but would he agree that it is of some considerable importance that he should arrive at some new understanding with the Institute, on the one hand to protect the rights of Government in deciding how public money is wisely spent and, on the other hand, to protect the academic freedom of the Institute?
§ Mr. WoodI should like to discuss with the right hon. Lady the new understanding which I hope my Department has reached with the Institute, because I think it is very important for its future administration.