Colombo Plan Conference, Singapore

HC Deb 31 October 1955 vol 545 cc82-3W

131. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement regarding the Colombo Plan Conference at Singapore.

Sir E. Boyle

The present Colombo Plan runs until 30th June, 1957. It was unanimously agreed at the Singapore Conference that the Plan should continue until the 30th June, 1961, and that the future of the Plan should be considered by the Committee at their 1959 meetings. In the discussions at Singapore, it was made very clear that technical assistance on a generous scale is of fundamental importance to the success of the Plan. In furtherance of this object, Lord Reading announced at the Conference the decision of Her Majesty's Government to increase their commitment for technical assistance to £7 million over a period of seven years from April, 1956. This announcement was well received as an indication of the importance which Her Majesty's Government attach to the purposes of the Colombo Plan.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be presenting the Fourth Annual Report of the Consultative Committee to the House as a White Paper next month.