HC Deb 28 January 1958 vol 581 cc46-7W
77. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the sums of money provided to assist the Dependent Territories within the Empire and to newly independent realms within the Commonwealth to develop and exploit their educational, industrial, housing and other potentialities and requirements are insufficient for those purposes; that such territories and realms are being thereby driven to seek capital from foreign sources, and that this is inimical to the solidarity of the Commonwealth and Empire; and if he will take steps to provide sufficient capital for such territories and realms.

Mr. Profumo

There are few countries in the world which at present are able to obtain all the capital they would like to have. The amounts we are providing for the Colonies are considerable; and our policies on all these matters were fully set out in the White Paper on the United Kingdom's rôle in Commonwealth Development published last July. The hon. and learned Member will see from the White Paper that we do not accept his view as to the undesirability of attracting foreign capital from suitable sources on suitable terms.

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