§ 35. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will now seek to extend the scheme for matching money raised for overseas aid from nongovernmental sources with governmental aid, as with the "village adoption" scheme proposed by the former Chief Minister of Gujerat and presented to him by the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West.
§ Mr. Neil MartenNo extension is needed. The Narhari Trust, of which the hon. and learned Member sent me the particulars, appears eligible under the existing rules, and if it likes to apply for a grant for this scheme we shall be glad to consider it.
§ Mr. JannerI thank the Minister for that helpful answer. What funds are available through matching grants during the coming year? Does the Minister accept that there is vast and tragic poverty throughout much of India, not least in the State of Gujerat, and that we should be doing everything in our power to help these people to have at least the basic necessities of a decent life?
§ Mr. MartenYes, I accept what the hon. and learned Gentleman says about poverty in India. The joint funding scheme expenditure in the financial year just ended was over £1.5 million, and it will be much the same, I think, in the coming financial year. I stress that if the trust were to ask us to contribute to what it wants we should consider the matter, but we must look at its administrative and accounting arrangements and examine the scheme under our normal criteria.