HC Deb 13 June 1973 vol 857 cc1479-81
29. Mr. Barnes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further offers of assistance he plans to make to the Indian Government to help alleviate suffering in drought affected areas.

30. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on aid requested or given in relief of drought in central India.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Richard Wood)

I have made it clear to the Indian authorities that I am willing to consider giving any help from the aid programme that they may request to reinforce their own efforts, but I understand that they do not intend at present to ask us for such help.

Mr. Barnes

Does the Minister agree that a great nation such as India is unlikely to go round asking for help of this kind except in exceptional circumstances? Is it not the case that the situation is very serious, and that extra offers of assistance from Governments such as the British Government would be welcome?

Will the Minister say what he thinks is the prime need? Is the prime need for more help with drilling rigs? If so, could we not do a bit more in that direction?

Mr. Wood

The hon. Gentleman will know that we have already recognised the need for water supplies and for well drilling. We have offered help for both through the normal aid programme and through a contribution to UNICEF. On the general question, I do not accept that it would be right for me to do more than make it clear to the Indian Government, as I have done, that we are ready to help if they requested it. That is what was done some time ago.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

What is the present position regarding the famine which existed in Nepal? Has it finished now? Has our aid to Nepal, which was very welcome, terminated?

Mr. Wood

That is another matter. I advise my hon. Friend to put down a Question on it.

Mrs. Hart

It must be accepted, given the substantial programme of the Indian Government, that any help that we could offer would be only marginal. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many people deeply regret that he has seen fit to take a rather rigid attitude—namely, that we give help only if we are asked rather than offer help? Further, is he aware that some of us find it extraordinary that he should even have suggested to the Indian Government that one way of helping would be to distort our existing aid programme to India? It is rather disappointing that he has taken that attitude, in the light of our long-established friendship with India.

Mr. Wood

The right hon. Lady is becoming an expert in semantics. I do not think that I could do more than make it perfectly clear to the Indian Government that if they put in any request for help in this situation we would be ready to consider it sympathetically. The right hon. Lady will realise—she was responsible for it—that the aid programme to India is very large. If the Indian Government requested any of our very large allocation of aid to the Indian Continent for help in this situation we should be ready to consider that.

Mrs. Hart

What the right hon. Gentleman seems to be insensitive about is that the Indian Government are very conscious that they have a massive programme to deal with what is a serious drought situation. They will not go on their knees to ask people for help. It is our understanding that if friends were ready to offer aid the help would be gratefully received. There is a difference between asking and accepting an offer.

Mr. Wood

I cannot add very much more. We have offered to help if the request were made. We consider that is the right approach. Anything further would suggest that we know better than the Indians what is good for them.

Forward to