§ 93. Mr. Snowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of Burma's position as one of the principal rice-exporting countries of south-east Asia and its late entry into the Colombo Plan, when the development plans which are being evolved are expected to be presented; and what funds have now been earmarked for development in Burma.
§ Sir A. SalterI regret that I have no information as to the progress of Burma's development plan or the amount which she has earmarked for developmental purposes.
§ 94. Mr. Snowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Governments of Indonesia and Thailand, which sent observers to the second meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Colombo Plan have been invited to participate in the Plan; and what is the nature of their reply.
§ Sir A. SalterThese Governments have-been invited to participate in the Plan since its inception, and this invitation still stands, but they have not yet signified their intention to join.
§ 95. Mr. Snowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total of the funds estimated by the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee as necessary to arrest the decline in the present low standards of living in the countries with which it is concerned.
187W
§ Sir A. SalterNo such estimate has been attempted by the Consultative Committee. The whole intention of the Plan is to arrest the decline in living standards and to improve them if possible, while laying sound foundations for future development; but the formulation of national development programmes, and the assessment of the expenditure likely to be involved in carrying them out, are matters for the individual Governments concerned.