Oral Answers to Questions — Overseas Development – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 15 Rhagfyr 1964.
Mr John Osborn
, Sheffield, Hallam
12:00,
15 Rhagfyr 1964
asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will state the total assistance provided to all the less developed countries, from Great Britain, during the last three years in the form of bilateral grants and loans, contributions to international organisations and multilateral aid, and private capital, respectively; and which of these specific forms of overseas assistance she proposes to expand.
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
With permission, I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I am at present considering the future shape of our aid programme.
Mr John Osborn
, Sheffield, Hallam
Does the right hon. Lady think that the balance of payments situation will affect this consideration?
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
It will certainly be one of the many factors which we shall consider.
Mr John Osborn
, Sheffield, Hallam
While welcoming the right hon. Lady's reply, may I ask whether she is aware that the measures recently introduced by the Chancellor of the exchequer have positively discouraged private investment overseas? Is she aware of the measures which Germany has taken with regard to countries such as India to encourage German manufacturers to invest overseas? What is the right hon. Lady's attitude to insurance against political risks attaching to investments overseas?
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
I am not aware of the fact to which the hon. Gentleman referred in the first part of his supplementary question. With regard to the last part of it, I would point out that the question of guarantees for private investment overseas has been under examination for some time by various international bodies, but proposals of this kind raise problems which concern the Treasury, the Board of Trade, and other Departments as well as my own.
Mr Reginald Paget
, Northampton
Considering the balance of payments situation which we inherited, is it not unfortunately necessary to limit overseas investment?
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
Will the right hon. Lady at least give an undertaking that we will play a full and active part in the work of O.E.C.D. in helping the conditions for private investment, including the idea of a multilateral insurance scheme against political risks?
Mrs Barbara Castle
, Blackburn
I give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that we will give careful consideration to that.
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