Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: No doubt the representative will read the reports of the debate, but I cannot give way any more because in the last 12 minutes that I have left I must pursue some other matters. It is right that the ODA should not double guess all the activities undertaken by the bank. The emphasis must be on ensuring that systems and procedures are in place. Development always entails risks, so it is...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I am not worried.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: My right hon. Friend's most recent discussions with the Indian Government over the future of Kashmir took place during his visit to India in November.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I have no doubt that when the Prime Minister of India visits Britain, our Prime Minister will discuss with him a range of matters, including Kashmir. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we feel that four ingredients are essential: there should be a dialogue between India and Pakistan, respect for human rights, a political process in Kashmir and a cessation of external support for militants in that area.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: Yes, that decision is most welcome, and we expect the first report from the Indian human rights commission shortly. It will deal with a wide range of issues that have been drawn to its attention.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: Relations between Britain and India are excellent.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have massive commercial interests in India, and Britain is the second-largest overseas investor in that country. Our investment is rising dramatically, and last year trade increased by more than 20 per cent.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I am always encouraging the Indian High Commissioner to persuade his Government to allow more visits by British parliamentarians. The hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) visited India in January this year, and went to Kashmir. Lord Weatherill has been to Kashmir recently. The International Commission of Jurists and several international lawyers, led by Sir Philip Goodhart from Britain,...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: My hon. Friend is absolutely right in saying that the opportunities exist. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last year launched a great trade initiative. It culminated at the end of the year with the Indo-British week in November, to which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary went and at which 16 major deals worth £1.2 billion were signed.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: We have frequently discussed the situation in Kashmir with both the Indian and Pakistan Governments. They are the Commonwealth Governments most directly concerned.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: If it were the wish of the Indian or the Pakistan Government to have a special group from the Commonwealth to visit Kashmir, one or other would have drawn the attention of the Commonwealth secretariat to that matter. It would be for them to draw it to the Commonwealth's attention, not for us. As to the latter point of the hon. Lady's question, I said in an earlier answer that there have been...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: The main purpose of providing training under the aid programme is to benefit developing countries. I believe that schemes such as the British Chevening scholarships will also bring valuable economic benefits to the United Kingdom.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I agree with the tenor of my hon. Friend's question. There are two main schemes for bringing students here—the Foreign Office scheme and the Overseas Development Administration scheme. Combining the two, about 21,000 students in all are studying in Britain at any one time, at a cost of £160 million. That is money well spent and my hon. Friend is right that it ultimately leads to the...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I cannot comment specifically on the hon. Gentleman's point about the Scottish international resource project because I do not have the facts at my fingertips, but I can tell him that, wherever possible, we expand schemes that bring people to the United Kingdom. I can also tell him that the British Council has had enhanced funding in the past year for its activities.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: In 1992–93, multilateral aid was 44 per cent. of our total aid to developing countries.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: It is true that over years the trend has been increasing, but it fluctuates from year to year; how significant the increase has been over the past three years, I cannot say. Much of our multilateral expenditure is by agreement with other parties—it is not entirely determined by ourselves. For that reason, we must accommodate it if we wish to remain in forums such as the United Nations,...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: As the hon. Gentleman knows, the matter will be fully discussed by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, but I must make one or two points. First, our aid programme is not, and will not be, linked to arms sales. Secondly, the hon. Gentleman says that our reputation is sullied, but British aid has contributed to Malaysia's rapid economic development and to the productive relationship that...
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: My hon. Friend is right. I should add that the aid and trade provision is about 5 per cent. of our total aid programme and, under new procedures, is to be directed to help the poorest countries. I remind the House that the aid and trade provision was invented by the Labour party.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: Britain's contribution of £10 million to the international humanitarian effort has been widely welcomed.
Mr Mark Lennox-Boyd: I know that the hon. Lady is familiar with Angola and is an expert on this subject. She does the House a service by drawing our attention to the tragedy there, which is quite as bad as that of former Yugoslavia, or perhaps worse in terms of deaths. Since October last year, there has been better access to the provinces to deliver aid and, as a result, we are now providing £400,000 to finance...
