HC Deb 21 July 1969 vol 787 c246W
Mr. Moyle

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what help he is giving in rural development overseas.

Mr. Prentice

Rural development in the developing countries is of crucial importance, and my Ministry is doing all it can to respond constructively to sound requests for assistance in this field.

A Working Group on Rural Development, which consisted of outside advisers as well as my officials, has recently submitted its report to me. In view of its interest and value I have arranged for it to be published, and distributed as widely as possible. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

The Commonwealth Secretariat are arranging in Ghana next Easter a Commonwealth Specialist Conference on Education in Rural Areas at which we shall be strongly represented.

I hope that the report and Conference together will help to stimulate interest, clarify the problems, and show us more clearly what we can do to help.