asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many British people were recruited in 1963 under the auspices of the British Government for service in the developing countries.

Mr. Carr:

The total number recruited in 1963 was just over 2,900 including a very small number who are not of British nationality.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. How do the figures compare with the previous period? Is he satisfied with the progress?

Mr. Carr:

In 1962 the total recruitment was 2,300, so that it has gone up by a healthy percentage, which is satisfactory. We want that to continue and, if possible, to increase still further.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of the time taken to come to a decision about some of these recruits? There are complaints about long delays we have discouraged a number of people, including professors and even lawyers—if the latter might be deemed in any community to be useful—from undertaking these commitments? Will he look at that?

Mr. Carr:

Indeed, I will. We try to do this as fast as we can. We have first to select suitable candidates and final selection is by the Government of the overseas country concerned. We can only submit names for their final approval or rejection. The process sometimes takes longer than we would wish.