Trades Union Congress

HC Deb 30 November 1977 vol 940 cc251-2W

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether any part of the £75,000 given by her Department to the Trades Union Congress out of funds available for overseas aid can be used by members of the Trades Union Congress for travel to foreign countries and for accommodation of those members of the Trades Union Congress in those countries.

Mrs. Hart

Yes, in furtherance of the purposes of the grant.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development under what circumstances £75,000 from the funds allocated to overseas aid has been given in the current year to the British Trades Union Congress; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs. Hart

This grant is being provided to enable the TUC to help the development of trade unions in developing countries through the training of trade unionists.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what recent talks she has had, or members of her Department have had, regarding the spending of the £75,000 grant made by her Department to the Trades Union Congress, with members of the Trades Union Congress.

Mrs. Hart

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary is in touch from time to time with members of the Trades Union Congress about the spending of the grant, and my officials are in regular contact with them about it.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans her Department has to give money from overseas aid funds to the Trades Union Congress. further to the £75,000 given by her Department to the Trades Union Congress in the current year.

Mrs. Hart

I propose to provide further grants of up to £75,000 given by the Department to the Trades Union Congress in the next two financial years.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development for what precise purpose her Department has given £75,000 from funds available for overseas aid to the Trades Union Congress.

Mrs. Hart

The purposes of the grant are set out in the memorandum governing the grant, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will place in the Library details of the contract between her Department and the Trades Union Congress under which her Department has given £75,000 out of funds available for overseas aid to the Trades Union Congress.

Mrs. Hart

A copy of the memorandum governing the use of the grant was placed in the Library of the House on 25th November.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the names of all persons, and the countries from which they come, who have come to the United Kingdom, at the invitation of the Trades Union Congress, paid for by money from the £75,000 given by her Department to the Trades Union Congress.

Mrs. Hart

No. I would think it wrong to publish names, though I am ready to write to the hon. Member if he wishes. The countries from which the TUC has provided training in the United Kingdom under the grant, and the number of persons in each case, are as follows:

Cyprus Workers Confederation	Four
Kenya Central Organisation of Trades Unions	One
Barbados Workers Union	One

The aim is to help organisations rather than individuals. Selection for training is, therefore, based on nominations by the workers' organisations concerned.