§ 3.4 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the present extent of British aid and technical assistance to Brazil; and whether Her Majesty's Government have any further plans for extending technical and other assistance to that country.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, in October, 1964, a loan agreement was signed with Brazil for the sum of £4.16 million to re-finance medium-term suppliers' credits. So far £1.5 million has been disbursed. There are no further capital aid plans at present. As to technical assistance, during 1964-65 six British experts worked in Brazil, four of the Ministry of Overseas Development advisers visited Brazil, and equipment was supplied to two institutions. There have also been several Brazilians training in this country under a variety of arrangements, and we hope there will be many more. Plans for the expansion of this programme are in hand.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his information, may I ask whether he would agree that a little technical assistance of high quality from us would not only do more good, but make a far better impression there than money; and is he also aware of the enormous stream of Communist underground penetration in this and other Latin-American countries? I am grateful for what the noble Lord said about the six British experts. Could he say whether there has been any further 173 discussion of the proposal mooted last year for a British expert to help in the development of the North-East of Brazil?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, first of all, of course I accept what the noble Earl said in the first part of his supplementary about the value of this work. As regards the North-Eastern zone of Brazil, the necessity for development work there has been acknowledged, both by the Embassy in Brazil and by the Ministry of Overseas Development. But we are awaiting a suitable project before any further work can be done in that area.
§ EARL OF DUNDEEIt is still on the carpet?
§ LORD BESWICKYes it is, my Lords.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, may I ask Her Majesty's Government what is the present extent of Brazilian technical assistance to Britain, because in the field of architecture, at all events, the Brazilians would consider themselves somewhat in advance of this country? Would Her Majesty's Government not offer to Brazil the services of some experts of the Inland Revenue?—for the troubles in that country arise purely because their rich men have never paid their taxes.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I am sure that your Lordships will agree that both the points raised by the noble Lord are somewhat wide of the Question.