§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 in what way they will co-operate in the international Commission set up to examine long-term aid to developing countries, of which Mr. Lester Pearson has been appointed Chairman.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government welcome the setting up of this independent Commission and the appointment of Mr. Lester Pearson as Chairman. They will sympathetically consider any request for help that he may make.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I, in the form of questions, make two requests? I will put them shortly. In view of the fact that the World Bank is to supply the staff, will Her Majesty's Government use their influence to secure that the Commission considers not merely monetary aid but also comprehensive issues of development? Secondly, will they act in co-operation with the developing countries and independently of any Power blocs?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I refer my noble friend to the terms of reference as suggested by Mr. Lester Pearson—namely, that the inquiry should identify the causes of the relative successes and failures in the past; should consider the methods of giving assistance and the orders of magnitude of that assistance which appear necessary over the next decade and the next generation 1130 in order to ensure reasonable hope of sustained and eventually self-sustaining growth of a number of less developed countries, and the courses of action which the less developed countries need to take to facilitate their own economic growth.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend very much.