§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she proposes to use aid to help private investors to finance pre-investment studies in the developing countries.
§ Mrs. HartAs my hon. Friend will know, I do not regard private foreign investment as aid. Developing countries will, of course, wish to make their own arrangements for private investment, according to their own assessment of their needs and priorities.
I have accordingly decided that my Department will cease to operate the 583W Feasibility Study Scheme which was introduced in 1972, although if the Government of a developing country were to ask for help with a particular study this would of course be considered on its merits under our normal technical assistance arrangements.