§ 117. Mr. Sorensenasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will consider a permanent arrangement between the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, particularly those in Asia and Africa, for periodic temporary exchange of teachers, nurses and others.
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§ Mr. AlportMy noble Friend is always prepared to consider sympathetically any practical suggestions put to him for co-operating with other Commonwealth countries whether through the medium of any technical assistance scheme of which the United Kingdom is a member or by other arrangement.
In reply to a Question put by the hon. Member on 13th February, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education gave details of the exchange scheme for teachers already operated with some Commonwealth countries, including the Union of South Africa and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The primary need of the Asian Commonwealth countries and Ghana is for teachers from this country rather than for post-to-post exchanges where differences in salaries and qualifications often create formidable difficulties. Every effort is being made to encourage and assist teachers from the United Kingdom to take up posts in these countries, and to provide training in suitable fields in this country for teachers from Commonwealth countries in Asia and Africa.
Under existing arrangements, the United Kingdom Government meets requests from Commonwealth countries in Asia under the Colombo Plan for nurses and other health service personnel needed in those countries to give training. Similarly the United Kingdom Government assist Asian trainees to come to the United Kingdom for training as nurses, etc. There is a mutual technical assistance scheme in operation with Ghana under which similar arrangements can be made.