HC Deb 24 May 1985 vol 79 cc558-9W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what non-government specialist advice on health and population matters is available to staff of development divisions overseas and to his headquarters staff, respectively; and how often overseas visits in connection with health and population projects were made by United Kingdom-based non-governmental experts in 1984.

Mr. Raison

Advice is available on request from a variety of non-government sources such as the London and Liverpool schools of tropical medicine and the specialist population centres. In addition to technical co-operation officers and consultants now engaged on projects abroad, 17 overseas advisory visits were made on behalf of the Overseas Development Administration in 1984.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the staff in each development division overseas are experts in health and population projects; and how many staff at Overseas Development Administration headquarters have similar expertise.

Mr. Raison

There are no health or population specialists on the staff of development divisions. There are eight professionals in these fields at the headquarters of the Overseas Development Administration.