asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation in what Commonwealth countries the 2,500 technical experts placed by his Department since its foundation are working; how many are engaged in teaching in each country; and on what terms they are employed.

Over 2,300 of the 2,500 technical experts mentioned have been recruited to serve in all the developing countries and territories in the Commonwealth, and about 730 were for educational appointments, mostly as teachers. Their geographical distribution will be circulated as a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

About 1,800 were appointed under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme and some 300 under regional programmes of technical assistance. The remaining 200 were recruited but not financially assisted by my Department.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that information, may I ask whether he would not regard it as desirable that these technical experts who go to developing countries should work there on the same terms and conditions as citizens of those countries with equivalent qualifications? Would it not be a constructive thing to ensure that if they are to be paid additional allowances those are paid in the United Kingdom and that these people are not paid more than equivalent citizens in the countries in which they work?

The fact has to be faced that if we are to persuade people to leave this country, and indeed other countries, and give up their home-based careers and serve abroad for a period, we may have to pay quite substantial inducements for them to do so. To the best of my knowledge, the present rates are thoroughly acceptable to the developing countries concerned.

That was not the point about which by hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) was asking. My hon. Friend was suggesting that these people ought to be paid at a higher level than equivalent people in the developing countries but that an element in that payment should be made at home. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the West Germans do this and that it helps to avoid some of the difficulties in developing countries? Would the right hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?

I will certainly look at it again but present arrangements, as far as I know, are very agreeable to the developing countries.

Following is the table:

Appointments (171) under Commonwealth Educational Co-operation arrangements are not included because they were not made directly by the D.T.C., although supported financially by it.