HC Deb 08 May 1978 vol 949 cc765-6
34. Mr. Skinner

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is satisfied with the current operation of the Crown Agents.

Mrs. Hart

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Skinner

In the interests of open government, will my right hon. Friend ensure that from time to time a statement is made about the operation of the Crown Agents during the course of the parliamentary year so that they do not fall into the same trap into which they fell previously by allowing to move in rather sleazy operators? It may be that we can turn this loss-making activity into a profitable operation such as coal, gas, electricity, rail, the Post Office and many of the other 40 nationalised industries.

Mrs. Hart

I ask my hon. Friend to allow me to consider that. We are within Government committed to a greater degree of open government. There are certain documents that my Ministry has been able to make available on request to the general public and the Members of Parliament. Will my hon. Friend allow me to consider how far we can make further information available in between the annual reports that are presented to me and Parliament?

Mr. Luce

Does the right hon. Lady remember that way back in early December she announced that the Government felt it necessary to bring forward proposals, or measures, to ensure that in future the Crown Agents were fully accountable? I am becoming rather bored with asking the question, but when will the proposals come forward?

Mrs. Hart

As soon as we can fit them into the legislative programme.

Mr. Dalyell

Has my right hon. Friend considered with the Crown Agents the possibility of lending money to develop in desert areas the jojoba plant, on which I have written to her and on which there is to be a conference in May in London? Would it not serve both the purpose of producing much-needed foreign exchange for some of the very poorest desert areas and saving from extinction the sperm whale that produces oil for the leather industry?

Mrs. Hart

This is more a matter for the Ministry directly than for the Crown Agents. Since my hon. Friend wrote to me, the matter has been fully under investigation by our scientific advisers.