asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how his Department is assisting in the provision of scientists for research on problems affecting the developing countries.

Mr. Carr:

My Department is employing or supporting financially over 1,200 research staff working on these problems. Just over a quarter of these are in home-based units, and the remainder are in overseas research organisations.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he will bear in mind that the expansion of help of this sort, which in the long run will help developing countries the better to help themselves, is one of the most important types of aid which we can give?

Mr. Carr:

Certainly I will, and we are devoting about £2 million a year to research for overseas developing countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these research scientists are very narrowly based in terms of the work and scientific techniques on which they are working, and will he try to ensure that there is a wider research into the social, educational and economic matters of importance to developing countries?

Mr. Carr:

I certainly have an expansionary mind on these matters.