§ LORD SEGALMy 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 medical and economic aid they have offered to Vietnam since the closure of the British Pædiatric Unit in Saigon, and whether any additional aid is contemplated.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I regret that we have been unable to recruit a suitable pædiatrician, and therefore we have not been able to offer further medical aid in this field, although the Vietnamese authorities have been invited to suggest alternatives. We are, however, currently engaged in a number of technical assistance projects in other fields, and the number of Vietnamese students coming to this country is on the increase. Furthermore, the Government of Vietnam has accepted an offer which we made last year of an interest-free loan of £1 million to be spent on British goods and services in connection with a project or projects which are still to be agreed between our two Governments.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl for that reply. Is he aware of the desperate needs of Vietnam, both North and South of the 17th Parallel, for outside help on a purely humanitarian basis, regardless of any political or military considerations? Is he further aware of the acute shortage of hospital and orphanage accommodation, and could our aid be extended on as wide a front as possible, especially in the field of rehabilitation?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are, of course, fully aware of the needs to which the 206 noble Lord, Lord Segal, has referred. I would only assure him that we are prepared to consider any kind of request for assistance which may come from the Government of South Vietnam.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, could the noble Earl say what was the obstacle which confronted the Government in the appointment of a pædiatric doctor?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the Government have tried to find somebody who was willing to go there, but such a person has not yet presented himself.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I press this point? Was it a question of remuneration and conditions of service, or the fact that such doctors are just not available?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, it is in fact that such doctors have not yet come forward to say that they would be willing to go to Vietnam to undertake this particular appointment.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, is it a question of the conditions—in other words, that if the conditions were better such a doctor could be found?
§ LORD SHEPHERDNo.
EARL FERRERSI think it is, because the Government have advertised and canvassed to try to get a pædiatrician to fill this post, and nobody as yet has been prepared to accept it.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, would the Government consider approaching neighbouring countries, such as Thailand, and also the American authorities now in Vietnam, with a view to some concerted effort towards increased medical aid to Vietnam?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the Americans have a unit at this hospital. But I would again assure the noble Lord that we have intimated to the Vietnamese Government that they should put forward any suggestions they may have as to how we can help in this respect. We therefore look forward to hearing what they wish.