§ 62. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many medically qualified personnel are responsible to him in relation to his overseas development responsibilities; and what rank is the most senior of such personnel.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe ODA has two full-time medical advisers on its permanent staff, both of medical officer rank, and a part-time nutrition adviser. One medical adviser post is currently vacant, but will be filled on 2 March. The ODA can also turn for advice to 13 medically qualified lecturers and senior lecturers whom it supports at the Liverpool and London schools of tropical medicine, the University of Edinburgh and the University of London. In addition, the ODA supports more than 80 medically qualified personnel working for Governments or public authorities overseas.
§ Sir David PriceDoes my hon. Friend agree that one of the best ways in which this country can help the Third world is through medical advice? From the Minister's reply, it is clear that the Department is inadequat:ely staffed with medical practitioners. Should not the Department have at least somebody of under-secretary rank, or preferably deputy-secretary rank? In view of the current problem of AIDS in Africa, we shall soon have to give a great deal of advice. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is a great deal more important to give sound medical advice than to throw a lot of money into the Third world? Will his Department do a bit better?
§ Mr. PattenI do not agree with everything that my hon. Friend has said, but I agree about the importance of our health and population programmes. At present we are spending about £38 million on those programmes. I believe that in those programmes more emphasis should be placed on primary health care. We should, of course, work through multilateral as well as bilateral prograrnmes 19 and we look forward to giving more support to the World Health Organisation and the work that it is proposing to carry out in relation to AIDS.