§ 47. Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will increase the amount of aid to Zimbabwe.
§ Mr. Neil MartenA substantial programme of aid to Zimbabwe over the next three years is well under way. It is too soon to say what we might do in the future.
§ Mr. CanavanDoes the Minister agree that we have a duty to give more aid to Zimbabwe because Britain exploited that country and its people for generations? If the British Government are hard up, why not place an expropriation order on the wealth and property of people such as the Duke of Montrose? Is the Minister aware that he left his son in charge of more than 8,000 acres of land in my constituency while he deserted to Rhodesia to collaborate with the traitor Smith, and then returned to Britain scot-free to take an oath of allegiance in another place?
§ Mr. MartenI do not agree with the basis of the hon. Gentleman's question.
§ Mr. Kenneth LewisI shall endeavour to make my question a little more relevant than that asked by the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan). Is my hon. Friend aware that Zimbabwe needs people with expertise—technicians and people with other skills? Is he further aware that Britain has a surplus of technicians and people with skills? Will he establish a special programme to encourage people to work under contract for the Government of Zimbabwe, backed by my hon. Friend's Department?
§ Mr. MartenIt is for the Zimbabwe Government to make a request for expertise. We have already sent many people to Zimbabwe. A donors' conference is to be held in March, when no doubt a shopping list of requests will be produced.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettDoes the Minister realise that the current level of white emigration from Zimbabwe—I do not necessarily refer to emigration to another place—coupled with the reluctance of the banks to indulge in capital investment in Zimbabwe, could result in a serious economic and financial position for Zimbabwe this year?
§ Mr. MartenI suppose that that could happen, but we have done a great deal to help Zimbabwe. We have forgiven £20 million of debt and rescheduled the remainder of the debt that is owing to Britain. We are doing what we can to help.
§ Later—
Mr. J. Enoch PowellOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not contrary to the practice of this House to attack the character or motives of Members of another place?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman is right. I listened carefully, and on balance I thought that the Member of the other place would not have thought much of the attack.