§ 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 what conclusions were reached at the Ministerial meeting of the Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, a main purpose of these meetings is to exchange information and views on the major social and economic problems of the Region, rather than record conclusions. It was however decided to admit to membership the People's Republic of Bangladesh and Fiji, to set up a Regional Centre for Technician Teacher Training in Singapore, and to appoint an Adviser on Drug Abuse, from within the Region.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I appreciate that Answer very much. May I ask: Has not the time now come for a reconsideration of the whole problem of aid to South-East Asia, the most proverty-striken area in the world? Is it not now desirable that there should be some coordination between the Colombo Plan, the economic arm of SEATO (as I prophesied, Australia and New Zealand, will now repudiate the military arm) and the United Nations Special Development Fund?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I would agree with the noble Lord that co-ordination of all these activities is very important. But it seems that both the developing and the developed countries which took part in this conference found it valuable.