HL Deb 02 February 1977 vol 379 cc847-9

2.48 p.m.

Lord MERRIVALE

My 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, bearing in mind that the gross national product of Madagascar is only 150–170 dollars per capita, what is the present British aid effort in Madagascar in fields of rural development and English language teaching and whether further co-operation is planned.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are providing training in English language teaching in the United Kingdom for 20 Malagasy trainees at a cost of £45,000 this financial year. Over a three-year period we shall provide an English teaching specialist, equipment and books for the National English Language Centre in Tananarive, 60 training places for English language teaching training in the United Kingdom and short vacation courses in Madagascar for selected teachers from secondary schools. We are not at present providing assistance for rural development.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for what she has said on the educational side, especially as I was under the impression that there were only nine students at Colchester at the moment; but if there are to be 20 in October, that is highly encouraging. On the agricultural side, bearing in mind the long, friendly relationship that has existed between our two countries, is the noble Baroness aware that President Ratsiraka in his Little Red Book, which I have here, considers agriculture as the basis for development of the Malagasy economy? Also, would the noble Baroness further agree that agro-engineering is one of the important growth areas of the world, and therefore that a little judiciously placed aid could assist in this process to the benefit of both our countries and also as a contribution from this country to the Malagasy national effort?

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I little thought to be surprised by the noble Lord, Lord Merrivale, producing a Little Red Book. Nevertheless, he has done so. We all know of his interest in the Francophone countries, and I should like very much to confirm the interest of Her Majesty's Government in helping there and also in agricultural development, because this is one of the things to which we give priority. The noble Lord will be glad to know that we are contemplating an additional 10 training awards in agriculture and research quite soon, and that we are contemplating a visit by an agricultural expert to decide how we can best help.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, would not the only Little Red Book known to your Lordships be the Companion to the Standing Orders?

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

I very much hope so, my Lords.