HC Deb 13 July 1965 vol 716 cc39-40W
Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many graduates in agriculture from the United Kingdom have taken up permanent and short-term advisory and research appointments, respectively, in agriculture in Africa during each of the last three years to the latest convenient date; how many of these received formal training in tropical agricultural subjects; and if she will estimate the figures for the next year.

Mr. Oram

I can give information only about posts in Africa which the Ministry of Overseas Development, or the Department of Technical Co-operation before it, was asked to fill. The appointments statistics are not kept separately for graduates and non-graduates; but in fact graduates are appointed to nearly all posts of these kinds.

No permanent appointments are now made.

Short-term appointments, which are often renewable for more than one term, were made as follows:

Advisory and Executive Research
July-December 1962 9 5
January-December 1963 11 18
January-December 1964 23 18
January-June 1965 22 7
Total: mid-1962 to mid-1965 65 48
TOTAL 113

Of these 113 officers 36 had had formal training in tropical agricultural subjects as post-graduate students selected and maintained by the Ministry of Overseas Development or the Department of Technical Co-operation. No statistics are available showing the equivalent training received by other candidates; but most would have acquired specialised knowledge of tropical agriculture before they were selected. The rest were known to be acceptable to the overseas Governments concerned without that knowledge, either because their work would not require it or because they could conveniently be given it on the spot.

I estimate that about 60 appointments of these kinds will probably be made by my Department in the next twelve months. Of those two-thirds will probably be for advisory and executive posts and one-third for research. About a quarter of the graduates selected will have had formal training in tropical agricultural subjects as Ministry of Overseas Development students. The value of this estimate depends not only on the number of suitable candidates who will become available but also on the number of posts of each kind which overseas Governments ask the Ministry of Overseas Development to fill.