HC Deb 02 April 1968 vol 762 c78W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Minister of Overseas Development, whether he will propose the founding of a United Nations Peace Corps of volunteer helpers in developing countries under international administration.

Mr. Oram

No. While welcoming international co-operation in this field, there would be formidable difficulties in administering a United Nations Corps, since the essence of volunteering is the suitable placement of individual young men and women in individual projects, and an international organisation to handle this would inevitably be large and costly. Furthermore, there is much to be said for volunteer movements being in the hands of voluntary societies, an arrangement which has many attractions for the young people who provide the volunteer force, rather than in the hands of Governments or in the hands of a large international administrative organisation composed of Governments.