Development Education

HC Deb 31 October 1979 vol 972 c1230

46. Mr. McElhone

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on his intensions concerning the programme for development education.

Mr. Neil Marten

On 9 October I announced that the official funding by the overseas development administration of development education activities in Britain was to be progressively reduced. As a consequence the advisory committee on development education is to be disbanded.

Mr. McElhone

Is not that a deplorable decision by the Minister, when his predecessor set up a good programme of development education? Is it not also deplorable, in international terms, for Germany, Sweden and many other countries to spend 10 times what we spend? The consciousness and concern of the British people will suffer. Indeed, the Third world will also suffer.

Mr. Marten

One considers all these issues as a matter of priority. The plan to spend about £9 million over the next few years must be matched against priorities such as aid to Dominica and Kampuchea. If we had not had to cut the planned programme of the Labour Party because of the economic mess, this situation would not have arisen.