HC Deb 18 October 1966 vol 734 cc27-8W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give details of the £2,133,000 to be spent on the promotion of science and technology for the benefit of developing countries, as shown in Class II, 10, B of the Civil Estimates 1966–67.

Mr. Bottomley

This money pays for projects directed towards the gathering of new knowledge or the development of new techniques which relate to the problems that impede the social or economic progress of developing countries. The expenditure takes the form of financial grants made to Governments, universities or research organisations, either in Britain or overseas. Grants to overseas projects generally cover only a proportion of the total costs. The sums at present distributed to each field are as follows:

£
Agriculture … 724,000
Veterinary … 154,000
Floras … 22,000
Forestry … 13,000
Fisheries … 100,000
Pesticides … 110,000
Nature Conservancy … 2,000
Locust Control … 10,000
Medical … 385,000
Trypanosomiasis … 125,000
Social and Economic … 125,000
Roads … 243,000
Building … 65,000
Miscellaneous … 55,000
£2,133,000

Of the total expenditure, about 71 per cent. is spent in the developing countries and about 29 per cent. in Britain. The largest single allocations are as follows: East African Common Services Organisation:

  • East African Natural Resources Research Council £224,000.
  • East African Medical Research Council £127,000.
  • East African Industrial Research Council £19,000.
  • Agricultural Research Council of Central Africa £94,000.
  • Regional Research Council of the West Indies £142,000.
  • Tropical Fish Culture Research Institute, Malacca, £53,000.
  • Tropical Section of Road Research Laboratory £243,000.
  • Overseas Division of Building Research Station £65,000.

Similar work of research and development is undertaken by the Tropical Products Institute, the Anti-Locust Research Centre, the Tropical Stored Products Centre, the Tropical Pesticides Research Unit and the Tropical Pesticides Headquarters and Information Unit, which are provided for in Class II, 10, D2–6.