asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation in which fields of professional activity his Department has had most success in recruitment since it was set up.

Mr. Carr:

In education.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this is very satisfactory? Has this always been the case, or has there been a recent sudden increase?

Mr. Carr:

We have always given first priority to education as being the most fundamental way of helping the developing countries, but there has, I am glad to say, been a rather startling and satisfactory increase in teacher recruitment. For example, teacher recruitment has increased by 300 per cent. since my Department was set up as compared with an average increase in all forms of recruitment of 80 per cent. I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the great zeal and efficiency of the officers in my Department who are engaged on this work.

Can the Minister say which field of professional activity in his Department has been the least successful and what he is doing about it?

Mr. Carr:

I am not briefed to reply to that but, one of the most difficult fields, as, I think, the hon. Member has in mind, is that of doctors. I have, as the hon. Member knows, an enthusiastic advisory committee which is studying recruitment among many other problems.