§ Miss Richardsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will consider supplying current scientific and medical literature to scientific and medical institutes in Vietnam on a continuing basis.
§ Mr. PrenticeHer Majesty's Ambassador in Hanoi has recently made a gift of medical and scientific books to the Ministry of Health there. My Department is prepared to consider on their merits any further requests for literature.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if the 1969 210W grant of £0.775 million to South Vietnam, amended in 1971 for the building and furnishing of primary schools, has been completely spent; and, if not, when he anticipates that it will be.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe amended grant of £0.551 million for primary schools has been completely spent. I am writing to my hon. Friend.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development if the 1972 loan of £1 million to South Vietnam for goods and services from the United Kingdom is still available for South Vietnam; and whether this information has been communicated to the Vietnamese.
§ Mr. PrenticeOf the £1 million loan, £198,000 has been spent. The question of the availability of the balance of the loan is one of the many aspects of relations between Britain and South Vietnam that will have to be examined when the constitutional future of Vietnam becomes clearer.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Overseas Development if his department intend to make a financial contribution to the British Medical Aid Committee in Vietnam.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have no plans to con tribute to this committee at present.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Overseas Development what contribution from public funds have been made towards the British Hospital in Vietnam Scheme; and whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government to contribute a further £250,000 towards the reconstruction of Vietnam.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo contribution from public funds has been made to the British Hospital in Vietnam Scheme. My predecessor informed my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 10th June of the allocation of £750,000 of the £1 million relief aid for Indochina offered by Her Majesty's Government. The balance of £250,000 has since also been allocated—£150,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees appeal for aid to refugees and £100,000 to the United Nations rice appeal for Laos. Further aid to Vietnam is not envisaged at present.