HC Deb 17 January 1967 vol 739 cc46-8W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of fatal accidents and other accidents as an absolute number and as a percentage of the number of workers employed for the years 1960 to 1966 in the construction industry and the general manufacturing industries, respectively.

Mr. Fernyhough

The numbers of accidents reported under the Factories Act are given below:

bursements are made. Many projects in which buildings and equipment are included also include other items, and it is not possible to separate them. In the financial years 1964–65 and 1965–66 (the latest year for which we have complete information) British Government disbursements to developing Commonwealth countries for projects, and for technical assistance equipment, amounted to £50.4 million and £63.6 million respectively.

Mr. Colin Jackson

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent consultation takes place with overseas Commonwealth Governments with regard to priorities for aid projects; and what requests have been received from each Commoawealth country for the years 1964 to 1967, inclusive, for equipment, technical training, technical instructors and facilities for practical training in technical subjects in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bottomley

There is always close consultation with the Governments of countries which receive British aid about the purposes for which it is to be used. To provide details of the many requests from Commonwealth countries in the way requested would entail excessive work which I do not believe would be justified. Many details of our aid and its distribution are published in "British Aid Statistics of Official Economic Aid to Developing Countries" published last June and in Cmnd. 3180 just published.

Mr. Colin Jackson

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent his Department is considering the agricultural needs of the developing countries of the Commonwealth which could be met as a result of the recent identification of areas of unused industrial capacity in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bottomley

As was explained in my hon. Friend's Reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 26th November (Vol. 736, c. 1566–67), my Ministry tries where practicable to take account of surplus capacity when planning aid. This

BRITISH GOVERNMENT MULTILATERAL ECONOMIC AID CONTRIBUTIONS TO MULTILATERAL AGENCIES*
£ million
Agency Commencement of Contributions Total Contributions to 31st March, 1966
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development … … 1946 90.0
International Development Association … … 1960 58.3‡
International Finance Corporation … … 1956 5.1
U.N. Expanded programme of Technical Assistance and Special Fund 1950 26.6
U.N. Relief and Works Agency … … 1948 33.4
U.N. Children's Fund … … 1946 3.7
U.N. Korean Reconstruction Agency … … 1950 10.1
U.N. Assistance to the Congo … … 1960 1.7
World Food Programme … … 1963 2.0
Other … … † 0.4
Total … … 231.3
Notes:
* The Indus Basin Development Fund is not included.
† Prior to 1961–62 these contributions were included indistinguishably with totals of bilateral aid.
‡This figure represents the contribution which Her Majesty's Government is committed to make available as required. Drawings to date total £32.3m.

policy applies to the agricultural needs of developing countries as to other needs.

Mr. Colin Jackson

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what consultations are being held with industry into the possibility of recirculating unused industrial capacity in the United Kingdom to meet the urgent needs of agricultural development in the emerging countries of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Bottomley

I am always interested in information about the products of British industries which may be made available to the developing countries and consultation does take place when suitable opportunities present themselves.