§ Mr. Pavittasked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Government of Pakistan concerning their decision to increase expenditure on telecommunications from £2.4 million to £8.6 million in the third five year plan with a view to exporting British-made equipment.
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§ Mr. CroslandI cannot reconcile my hon. Friend's figures with those given in the Pakistan Government's revised Third Five-Year Plan. This increased the provision for telegraphs and telephones from 890 million rupees (£66.8 million) to 1,151 million rupees (£86.3 million). The extent to which the equipment required can be imported depends upon the availability of foreign exchange, including aid, and in the absence of any indication of how the Pakistan Government envisage financing these imports, there is not the basis for assessing what opportunity there might be for U.K. exporters or whether questions which might necessitate consultations with the Government of Pakistan might be raised. I would certainly hope that if any opportunity to tender for contracts arises, British industry will do so.