HC Deb 20 November 1972 vol 846 cc908-10
30. Mr. Oram

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent official visit of the Minister for Overseas Development to countries in Southern Asia.

33. Mr. Tinn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent official visit of the Minister for Overseas Development to Pakistan.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Richard Wood)

I made brief visits to Afganistan and Pakistan on my way to Delhi to attend the annual meeting of the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee, after which I spent a few days in South India. Apart from seeing development projects, I had discussions with Ministers and others about matters of mutual interest; in particular, the purposes for which future British aid might be used.

Mr. Oram

During the right hon. Gentleman's visit, were fears expressed to him that when Britain joins the Common Market South Asian countries would suffer in terms of aid and trade? Was he able to assure those to whom he spoke that Francophone African countries would not receive aid at the expense of countries in South Asia?

Mr. Wood

No. I was fortunately preceded to South Asia by my right hon. Friend the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who, I understand, had been able to quieten many of the fears that existed previously.

Mr. Tinn

Is the Minister able to assure us that our programme of aid for Pakistan will be able to recover from any setback that it might have recently experienced from the temporary withdrawal of aid, particularly the dam at Tarbela which was itself made necessary because of India's unilateral action in the matter of the Indus waters many years ago?

Mr. Wood

We have continued our contribution to the dam and we have made available a loan of £4 million. We shall be considering further aid to Pakistan when we have the report of the recent mission of the World Bank.

Mr. Wilkinson

Will the Minister consider in that respect the future of such funds as the Commonwealth Education Co-operation Fund and the Commonwealth Bursary Scheme from which Pakistan has been a beneficiary in the past? Can he make alternative arrangements now that Pakistan is no longer a member of the Commonwealth?

Mr. Wood

My hon. Friend will realise that there are certain consequences when a member of the Commonwealth leaves the Commonwealth. The whole question of this kind of aid to Pakistan, however, will figure in the considerations which I shall make.

Mrs. Hart

Exactly what reassurances was the Minister able to give his counterparts in India and Pakistan about the consequences of joining the Common Market? Was he able to assure that in future the European Development Fund will give more than 3 per cent. of its budget to them? Was he able to assure them that the British Contribution to the EDF will be in addition to the existing aid programme?

Mr. Wood

I am sorry if I did not make it quite clear to the right hon. Lady, but the visit of my right hon. Friend the previous Chancellor of the Duchy had so allayed fears that these matters were not raised.