School Building (Indigenous Materials)

HC Deb 05 July 1968 vol 767 cc277-8W

Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now taken steps to investigate to what extent indigenous

	Budgetary Aid	Cost of Technical Assistance	Other Aid for Development Purposes	Total
1965–66	1.5	0.3	1.3	3.1
1966–67	1.2	0.3	1.4	3.0*
1967–68 (provisional)	0.9	0.3	2.1	3.3
The estimated disbursements for the coming year are:—
1968–69	1.9	0.3	0.7	2.9
* Total does not agree with individual items due to rounding.

In addition, in the period 1968-74, loans amounting to £0.5 million are being provided to meet the Swaziland Government's share of the cost of compensation and commutation of pensions of expatriate officers.

It is intended to hold discussions with the Swaziland Government in the autumn on the question of aid after March, 1969.

materials are being used wherever possible in the new school building programme; and whether he will now issue specific guidance to local authorities in this matter, in view of the increasing importance of achieving a satisfactory balance of payments position.

Miss Bacon

It is not practicable to obtain detailed information. Local education authorities can be relied upon to use home produced materials where these are competitive.