§ Sir G. Sinclairasked the Minister of Overseas Development, in view of the difficulties that many developing countries have in servicing and repaying external loans, if she will confine future direct British loans to such countries to projects that can be expected quickly to yield direct earnings sufficient to service the loans and repay capital; if, apart from such loans, she will provide aid mainly in the form of grants; and if she will give increasing priority to technical assistance.
§ Mrs. CastleI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have just given to his earlier Question. I cannot, for the reason given, make any statement at present about the future proportions of loans and grants. I can confirm that I attach the greatest importance to technical assistance.