§ Mr. Nigel Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, and for what purposes, the Land Resources Development Centre was established; and if he will list in the Official Report the projects to which this centre has diverted significant resources since it was established.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe Land Resources Development Centre had its genesis within the Directorate of Overseas Surveys and became established as a separate unit in March 1971.
Its main function is to assist developing countries with the assessment of all aspects of land resources. It also gives advice on related subjects to overseas Governments, makes scientific personel available for appointments abroad and provides training in resource appraisal techniques.
The centre's major projects since 1971 include the following:
- Bahamas—Land Resource Study
- Belize—Agricultural Development Project
- Cameroon—land suitability surveys
- Cyprus—Water use strategy for the Southern regions
- Dominica—Assistance in Land Use Planning
- El Salvador—Acelhuate River catchment management project
- Ethiopia—(i) Southern Rift Valley Development
- (ii) Lake Zwari irrigation development
- South-west Ethiopia forestry inventory
- Fiji—Land resources of the main islands
- The Gambia—Land resources of the Gambia and their development
- Indonesia—(i) Bali water resources development
- (ii) Development study of areas for resettlement Kenya—Ecological survey of the south-west highlands Malaysia—Regional soil survey and land capability classification of Sabah
- Nepal—(i) Development potential of the Nawalparasi area
- (ii) Kosi Hill area rural development programme Nigeria—Central Nigeria land resources
- St. Helena—(i) Agroforestal development
- (ii) Land resources
- Solomon Islands—Land resources
- Sri Lanka—North-west land and water resources development
- Sudan—Imatong Mountains Forestry Project
- Tanzania—(i) Mtwara-Lindi regional integrated development programme
- (ii) Tabora rural integrated development programme Yemen Arab Republic—Land and water resources survey of the Montane Plains and Wadi Rima
- Zambia—Land Resources study of Northern and Luapula provinces
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many functional officers are currently assigned to the Land Resources Development 171W Centre; what are their technical or professional qualifications; and if he will give a general breakdown of its costs and any direct or indirect income received.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe total number of professional and technical staff in post at the Land Resources Development Centre at 1 April 1982 was 62—including some 20 serving overseas whose costs are not borne by the centre.
The centre is concerned with all aspects of land appraisal and it employs staff who specialise in a wide range of subjects including agriculture, ecology, forestry, soil science, hydrology, cartography and economics.
The provisional estimate of costs of the centre in the financial year 1981–82 is as follows:
£ Wages and salaries 566,000 General administrative expenses 242,000 TOTAL 808,000 Direct and indirect income 25,000
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations in the private sector will be taking over the rural development work previously undertaken by the Land Resources Development Centre; if he will list in the Official Report the names of the companies with which he is in negotiation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil MartenI have established a working party of ODA officials, including representatives of LRDC management and a trade union side representative, to determine the extent to which a complement of between 35 and 45 officers is a viable basis for maintaining the centre; to determine the time scale for bringing this complement into effect; and to report and make recommendations to me by 1 July. On 1 May the number of staff in post in the United Kingdom and overseas was 77. The need to consider a reduction does not indicate any lack of recognition of the importance of the work which the centre carries out. Nevertheless, the bilateral aid component of the aid programme has been reduced and there have been changes in the sectoral emphasis of it which are largely a reflection of developing country requests. In these circumstances it is necessary to review staffing levels in this area of ODA's activities as is being done in all parts of the Civil Service.
No negotiations with private sector organisations for a takeover of LRDC's rural development work are being carried out. British consultancy firms with relevant experience are registered with ODA and some have been used in the past to implement projects of the kind which the centre carries out.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the number of persons serving upon the working party on the Land Resources Development Centre and the organisations represented other than his departmental officers together with the number of meetings already held.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe working party comprises seven departmenal officers including two representing LRDC172W management and another representing the trade union side. No other organisations are represented. The working party has so far held three meetings.