§ Q5. Mr. Goodhartasked the Prime Minister what plans he has for continuing the work at present undertaken by the Ministry of Overseas Development.
§ The Prime MinisterThis work will be continued by the Overseas Development Administration as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the day-to-day charge of the Minister for Overseas Development.
§ Mr. GoodhartI welcome the Government's pledges on the volume of overseas aid, but will my right hon. Friend keep in mind that much of the money will be wasted if the programme is not well administered? Will he give an assurance that the experts and the expertise which hitherto has been concentrated in the Ministry of Overseas Development will not now be dispersed among a number of Government Departments?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; it is the intention to hold together what my hon. Friend has described as the experience and expertise existing in the previous Department.
§ Mr. OramWill the Prime Minister ensure that the major criterion for disbursement of aid will continue to be the development needs of the developing countries and not political considerations now that aid comes under the Foreign Office?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; the criteria will remain the same. But the hon. Gentleman must know, as all right hon. and hon. Members should know, that there are bound to be some political considerations—there always have been—involved in the use of development aid. The criteria will remain the same.