HC Deb 22 March 1971 vol 814 cc28-9
33. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vacancies for agricultural economists to work overseas remain unfilled on the books of the Overseas Development Administration.

Mr. Wood

Fifteen, Sir.

Mr. Pavitt

In view of the urgency of this matter and the need to balance both industry and agriculture in the developing countries, what special action does the Minister propose to take to fill those 15 vacancies?

Mr. Wood

This is important. There is great pressure on and demand for these agricultural economists, of whom there is a rather short supply, and I am, therefore, trying to take several steps to increase the number of home posts in this field and also to increase the number of agricultural economists in the Corps of Specialists with particular relationship with my Department.

34. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the conferences, training courses and seminars on rural development in which the Overseas Development Administration will be participating this year.

Mr. Wood

I will do so, Sir.

Mr. Pavitt

May I press the right hon. Gentleman to pay much greater regard to this in the whole conduct of his administration of the rural development effort, not just in economic terms but particularly in educational terms and in terms of mutual aid, co-operatives and the extension of the kind of activities which not only enable rural development to take place but give basic democratic understanding to village leaders?

Mr. Wood

I take account of what the hon. Gentleman says. If he reads the information which I shall publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see, I think, that there is a great deal of such activity going on.

Mrs. Hart

Could the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the concern being shown by the previous Government for rural development in dry areas is being continued by the present Government?

Mr. Wood

The right hon. Lady will see that the concern shown by the previous Government is in no way diminished under this Government.

Following is the information:

Conferences, Training Courses and Seminars on Rural Development in which the Overseas Development Administration will be participating this year

Conferences The Fifth Commonwealth Education Conference held at Canberra in February, 1971—Agenda items: Adult Education, Literacy, Agricultural Education and Training, Community Development, including Family Planning Programmes, and Education Media. Annual Conference of the Institute of Rural Life at Home and Overseas. Seminars Study Seminar on "Land Tenure, Distribution, and Reform", Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Study Seminar on "Development at the Local Level", Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Training Courses Diploma Course in Rural Social Development, University of Reading. M.A. Course in Rural Social Development, University of Reading. Vacation Course on "Extension work among rural women in Developing Countries", University of Reading. Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Community Development and Youth Studies, University of Edinburgh. Diploma Course in Community Development, University of Manchester. Course on Community Development and Extension Work, University of London, Institute of Education. Course on "Rural Development and Administration", Institute of Local Government Studies. University of Birmingham. Course on Development, including
  1. a. land tenure, land economics and land administration
  2. b. sociological aspects of Development—University of Cambridge.