Commonwealth of Independent States (Hansard, 11 May 1992)

§ 34. Mr. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet representatives of the United Nations to discuss aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Mark Lennox-Boyd)
The next opportunity to discuss this issue in an international forum will be at the Lisbon conference on assistance to the former Soviet Union on 23 and 24 May. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker will represent the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Bennett
May I commiserate with the Minister, who has had to come to the House as a messenger? Can he tell us when we shall see a proper Minister for Overseas Development at the Dispatch Box?
What conditions for the floating of the rouble will be suggested at the conference? We keep reading in the press that it is to be floated, yet no one seems to have explained specifically how that will be implemented so that there is no run on the rouble.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The hon. Gentleman need not express sympathy that is not wanted. There are ample precedents for senior Ministers to serve from the House of Lords. If the hon. Gentleman would like a reminder, let him consider the examples of Lords Longford. Shackleton, Caradon, Chalfont, Crowther Hunt, Goronwy-Roberts and Donaldson. It may be suggested that that was a long time ago; that is because it is so many years since we had a Labour Government.
Let me deal with the hon. Gentleman's specific question. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer—[Interruption.]

§ Madam Speaker
Order. The House wants to hear the Minister's response to the question.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer took the lead on this issue in securing an early result and in gaining agreement to the principle of a stabilisation fund for the rouble. Macroeconomics are, of course, a matter to be take up by the appropriate international institution—in this case, the International Monetary Fund.

§ Mr. Lester
Does my hon. Friend agree that our right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker has served this country, and overseas development, very well indeed? We are very relieved that she is still able to carry out that function without being subjected to the pressures of this place: that can only benefit overseas development.
The major problem in the former Soviet Union is the question of the development of the private sector. We have been running a know-how fund for a considerable time now. How are we getting on with developing the private sector, particularly in the Russian economy?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As the Prime Minister said, the job of Minister for Overseas Development is a very important job that needs an experienced and first-rate Minister. The reappointment of my right hon. and noble Friend after the last election was welcomed by the aid community in the United Kingdom. As for my hon. Friend's specific point, there are already encouraging signs that private initiative in the Soviet Union is responding to new opportunities. Tens of thousands of new private farms and allotments have already emerged this year. It is vital that Russia should succeed in order that the republic as a whole succeeds.

§ Mr. Madden
Does the Minister understand that it is one thing to have the Minister for Overseas Development in the other place but that it is quite another for any reduction to be made in the time available for questions on overseas aid? The House will not tolerate that, bearing in mind the enormous problems that now confront our globe. If anything, we demand an increase in time so that questions on all these matters can be put in this House, where they properly belong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Within a week of the Queen's Speech I am before this House to answer Overseas Development questions in the usual way. I cannot see any point in the hon. Gentleman's question.

§ Mr. Tredinnick
My hon. Friend will be aware that Bulgaria is adjacent to the Commonwealth of Independent States. Is he further aware that there is an outstanding invitation to the Foreign Secretary to visit that country? Will he convey—

§ Madam Speaker
Order. As this is a general question, the hon. Gentleman should restrict himself to general, not specific, questions.

§ Mr. Tredinnick
I understand that, Madam Speaker. Is my hon. Friend aware that the United Nations element has been nothing like as successful as our own know-how fund, with the creation of seven libraries in Bulgaria?

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
As you pointed out, Madam Speaker, this question does not relate to specific countries. However, I can confirm that the how-fund has been an 370 immense success and that this year it has channelled three times as much aid money to the countries for which it finds support as it did in 1990.

§ Mr. Bennett
On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I take points of order later, as my predecessor did.

§ Mr. Bennett
With the greatest respect, Madam Speaker—[Interruption.]

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I must hear the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Bennett
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

§ Madam Speaker
That was perfectly in order. If I am allowed to hear, we can make progress.