Oral Answers to Questions — Overseas Information Services – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 7 Mai 1964.
Mr George Thomson
, Dundee East
12:00,
7 Mai 1964
asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what further plans he has for the extension of the Low-Priced Book Scheme.
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
The Low-Priced Book Scheme has now been extended, with the publishers' agreement, to 10 further countries, mainly in Africa, which I will, with permission, list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Scheme will be limited initially to university textbooks.
Mr George Thomson
, Dundee East
Is the Minister aware that there will be a wide welcome for this announcement, belated though it is? Can he say whether he proposes to go ahead and consider whether low-priced books apart from text books might be made available in the 10 countries which he has mentioned?
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
Yes, but we think it better to get the university text books going because we believe that they are the greatest need. Regarding the hon. Member's comment about belatedness, we have not done too badly. In the last year we brought in the whole of West Africa and most of East and Central Africa and one or two other countries as well.
Mr Anthony Bourne-Arton
, Darlington
Would not it be a good idea to have some kind of exhibition so that people may see what sort of books are involved? Will my right hon. Friend consider that?
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
Yes, but I had better not say anything now, because there is a Written Question on the Order Paper today which I shall be answering.
Mr Jon Rankin
, Glasgow Govan
Would the right hon. Gentleman consider introducing a low-priced HANSARD into this scheme?
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
I have a feeling that our friends overseas have plenty of reading of other kinds and can afford the little bit of money if they really want to read all our words of wisdom.
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