HC Deb 15 February 1971 vol 811 cc310-1W
Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans to assist developing countries in the development of labour-intensive technology.

Mr. Kershaw

The resources of the scientific and research units of the Overseas Development Administration are available to help with particular problems and have dealt with a number of enquiries from developing countries. The Overseas Development Administration have also made a number of grants to universities and other bodies, including the Intermediate Technology Development Group, to foster the development of technologies appropriate for employment in developing countries.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which recipient countries he has had consultations concerning methods by which British aid could increase employment in the developing countries.

Mr. Kershaw

This question is invariably a feature of our discussions with developing countries about British aid programmes. We have also tried to increase awareness of the need to create employment opportunities and the problems associated with it by means such as support for the 1970 Cambridge Conference on Employment and training courses at the Institute of Development Studies.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to review the effectiveness of British aid in terms of increasing the prospects of employment in developing countries; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Kershaw

While the problem of creating employment opportunities is primarily one for the developing countries themselves, special account is taken of the possibility of creating productive employment in considering all projects submitted for financial assistance from the British aid programme.