§ 2.44 p.m.
§ Lord MerrivaleMy 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 to be the technical co-operation allocation for Madagascar for the coming year; whether this will include the financing of Land-Rovers; to what other projects aid funds will be allocated; and whether, in assessing the extent of our help and encouragement, our historical links as well as political, commercial and cultural considerations will be borne very much in mind.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, we expect the scale of technical co-operation to be similar to that available in the current financial year, which we estimate at something like £250,000. This would include provision for two experts working on agro-climatology and air crash search and rescue techniques, a specially fitted air-crash rescue Land-Rover and the training of Malagasy students in the United Kingdom. Further possibilities are being examined, bearing in mind all relevant considerations.
§ Lord MerrivaleMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Some of the aid that he mentions was mentioned on a previous occasion. Will he not agree that bearing in mind the shortage of foreign exchange in Madagascar, increased bilateral aid tied to procurement would be of benefit to both countries? Furthermore, will he not agree that, as in the case in October-November 1979 of the acquisition of three Hawker Siddeley 748 aircraft by the Malagasy Government, the fact that Her Majesty's Government placed those orders would, in effect, assist a sales campaign for British Aerospace—
§ Lord MerrivaleMy Lords, I am asking a question. Will my noble friend not agree that that would assist British Aerospace to achieve a larger sales campaign in the area for similar aircraft, with maintenance being carried out in Madagascar?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, our ability to respond to additional requests for assistance is limited by financial constraints affecting the whole aid programme. My noble friend mentioned that some of these are current, which is true, and a grant of £600,000 has been given from the aid and trade provision for the purchase of the aircraft that he mentioned, two of which have been delivered and one of which has still to be delivered. Of course, when current expenditure reflects trainees and personnel, that will be carried forward into the next year. As I said in my original Answer, we do not intend in any way to cut back on what we are already doing.
§ Lord MerrivaleMy Lords, I should like to ask my noble friend one further question, although I do not wish to delay the House. Is it not a fact that a few years ago a British delegation, sponsored by the ODM, went out and that one of the promises that this delegation made was that it would get in touch with the Commonwealth Development Corporation with a view to involving the CDC in the agricultural field? Will my noble friend not agree that the agricultural field represents 85 per cent. of that country's economy and therefore is of great importance?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, we are indeed continuing to look at the agricultural picture. As my noble friend will be aware, the 20 boars and five gilts which have been provided since 1979 with the aim of trying to improve the quality of the Malagasy herd have helped. We understand that a proposal has been worked out by the Malagasy Government seeking our help for butter bean growing.