§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister of Overseas Development who were the nine TUC-sponsored participants in the 53rd Overseas Development Ministry-Department of Employment industrial relations course for overseas trades unionists who received a grant from public funds of £29,210 .96 in 1977–78 ; and what role she had in their selection.
§ Mrs. HartI think it undesirable to publish names, though I am ready to write to the hon. Member if he wishes. The countries and organisations from which the participants came are as follows:
- Barbados Workers Union.
- Waterfront and Allied Workers Union of Dominica—two participants.
- Union of Workers in Engineering, Metal and Electrical Industries (Egypt).
- Pakistan Post Office and Railway Mail Service Workers Federation.
- ICI Employees Union, Pakistan.
- Punjab Road Transport Employees Federation (Pakistan).
- Pakistan Printing Press and Graphic Art Workers Federation.
- Zambia Electricity Workers Union.
My Ministry is represented on the selection committee for these courses. So, too, are the Department of Employment, the British Council and the TUC.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister of Overseas Development what control she exercises over the selection of overseas trade unionists who are selected for Trades Union Congress-run training 294W courses and whose costs are borne out of public funds.
§ Mrs. HartSelection in these cases is a matter for the TUC itself, subject to the terms of my Ministry's grant.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister of Overseas Development what grants have been paid to trade unionists from Kenya, Barbados, Cyprus, Ghana and Egypt, to date ; and whether she has any plans to make further grants to trade unionists from those countries.
§ Mrs. HartTraining for trade unionists from all these countries has been provided under my Ministry's grant to the Trades Union Congress. For 1977–78 details are given in the annual report on the grant, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Training during 1978–79 has either been provided or is planned for a further two trade unionists from Barbados, two from Ghana and six from Kenya.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister of Overseas Development when the 53rd industrial relations course for overseas trade unionists was held, for which a grant from her Department of £29,210 .96 was paid ; how many participants there were ; from which countries they came ; who were the principal lecturers ; and what proportion of the total costs was borne by her Department.
§ Mrs. HartThe course was held from 9th January to 14th April .1978. There were 15 participants from Barbados, Dominica, Egypt, the Gilbert Islands, India, Pakistan. Tanzania and Zambia. The principal lecturers were provided by the Department of Employment, Oxford university, the Trades Union Congress, the Ministry of Overseas Development, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. All costs were borne by my Ministry.