asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps she is taking to increase the number of technical staff supplied to former British dependencies in Africa.

The annual rate of appointment of qualified staff has more than doubled for Commonwealth Africa since 1962. I have begun a thorough review of recruitment policy generally to see what more can be done to improve our performance still further.

Will the right hon. Lady, whose enthusiasm for her task we all appreciate, bear in mind that this is one of the most valuable forms of aid, but that one of the great difficulties is to ensure, on their return, the seniority of experts, particularly doctors and teachers, who go out from this country for a temporary term of service overseas?

My right hon. Friend will have heard the right hon. Gentleman's remarks. She was nodding, which indicates that she understood the point made by him. These points will be taken into account in the review that is to be made.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that agreement by nodding is not the same as agreement by voice?