HC Deb 20 June 1969 vol 785 cc167-8W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase the British contribution of about £100,000 for youth exchanges between the United Kingdom and Europe, bearing in mind that nearly half this amount is spent on exchanges with the Soviet Union and other countries of Eastern Europe.

Mr. Foley

Her Majesty's Government are considering how the level of exchanges with Western European countries might be raised, but believe that the main impetus for such exchanges must come from local initiative and voluntary organisations. The large proportion of assistance provided for exchanges with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is due partly to the comparatively greater cost of arranging exchanges with these more distant countries.