§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Health what effect sanctions are having on medical and medical research programmes in Rhodesia as regards cancer, spinal tuberculosis and malaria; and what representations he has received from British, Rhodesian and international organisations.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am not aware of any representations since early this year, when authority was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the final payment of a five-year annual grant for cancer research to be made, as an exceptional measure, on humanitarian grounds.
With regard to malaria and tuberculosis, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20th December, 1965, by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Chigwell, when he said that the World Health Organisation had been informed that their malaria eradication team should proceed to Rhodesia as planned, and to the reply given on 8th February, 1966, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development to the hon. Member for Haltemprice, when he stated that responsibility for a grant in connection with tuberculosis research had been taken over by a charitable organisation.
79WMy right hon. Friends do not believe that sanctions have adversely affected medical and medical research programmes in Rhodesia. The hon. Member will recollect that my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations informed the House on 8th March, 1966, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Antrim, North that it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to restrict the supplies of medicines, drugs, or surgical equipment for residents in Rhodesia.