§ 55. Mr. Brockwayasked the Prime Minister what reconsideration has been given to British policy in colonial and underdeveloped countries in view of the Russian offer at the Afro-Asian conference at Cairo to provide unconditional economic aid to such territories.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
This Russian offer was made in a quite unrepresentative conference; it was couched in the most general terms and was not mentioned in Russian reports of the meeting. Her Majesty's Government are giving, and will continue to give, as much assistance as possible to the development of their dependent overseas territories and other underdeveloped countries. Thus assistance from Exchequer funds alone has amounted to£230 million in the last three complete financial years