§ 31. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has tapered off the aid given to the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory from 55 per cent. of the costs to 35 per cent.
§ Mr. WoodA condition of the grant, when it was made in 1963, was that it should be tapered over a period of years, both because technical assistance like this was properly a pump-priming operation and because tapering would progressively release funds for new schemes. It was also felt that institutions like this labora- 1050 tory should progressively become the responsibility of the Governments or universities of the countries in which they were situated.
§ Mr. PavittDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that this laboratory is integrated into a whole network of preventive medicine, not only in Trinidad but throughout the region, including South America? Does he further realise the great demands that are placed on this money and the increased staff that is required to monitor things like influenza, which can have a great effect on the health services here because the virus of influenza does not stop in Trinidad?
§ Mr. WoodI agree that the work of the laboratory is extremely important but I insist on the validity of the points I have made; and in spite of the percentage tapering the amount that we are now providing is considerably higher than the amount we were providing in the last three years.