Mr Dennis Vosper: I am glad to inform the House that Her Majesty's Government will ensure the payment to pensionable overseas officers serving with the West African research organisations of compensation for loss of career similar to that provided for overseas officers in the Public Services of West African Governments. I am in consultation with the West African Governments about the best means of giving...
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes, Sir. There are 147 Peace Corps volunteers serving at present in British overseas territories: 34 in British Honduras; 36 in North Borneo; 21 in Sarawak; 42 in Nyasaland; and 14 in St. Lucia. They are employed in many ways, such as in teaching, agriculture, surveying, engineering and community development.
Mr Dennis Vosper: In each case an agreement has been entered into between the dependent Government concerned and the American Peace Corps organisation. I could show my hon. Friend a copy of such an agreement. A request for further Peace Corps volunteers has been made by four of the five countries. I think that that is some indication that the volunteers are performing a useful task and are not engaging in the...
Mr Dennis Vosper: I agree. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are increasing our voluntary effort and this year will send 250 graduate volunteers, some of them to the countries in question.
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes, Sir. I have received the Committee's Report, and I should like to say how grateful I am to the members for all the work that they have put into it. It will be published on 29th March as a non-Parliamentary paper. I have already asked my Department to study it, to make all necessary consultations and to advise me on the action needed. That will be done as quickly as possible. Meanwhile,...
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes. I will, however, be grateful if interested bodies will submit their comments as soon as possible, because the Report contains many worthwhile recommendations which should be implemented as soon as possible and I should like to act as quickly as I am able to on the Porritt Report on Medical Services.
Mr Dennis Vosper: The Committee's main purpose is to bring British and overseas universities together and to encourage co-operation between them. Schemes of secondment involving financial assistance by Her Majesty's Government are only a part of its activities. So far such assistance has been approved in 57 cases. These include 34 secondments for periods varying from a few months to three years.
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes, I will do that. But this is, of course, only one of several channels at my disposal for helping overseas universities. I agree, however, that the method of secondment is probably the most promising. The hon. Member will, I think, find the Committee increasingly entering into contracts in the future.
Mr Dennis Vosper: There are regular arrangements for secondments in a number of professional fields, particularly where the persons concerned are employed by Government Departments and statutory corporations. I have given some information in reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Dr. A. Thompson) about the secondment of university teachers. The problems affecting the secondment of...
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes, I am glad to give that assurance, because I believe that secondment is the way to help developing countries to obtain people from this country. We have had to tackle this matter profession by profession, and I am now in consultation with my right hon. Friend concerning local government officers.
Mr Dennis Vosper: The Advisory Committee is free to recommend publication of any low-priced books it thinks suitable, and several teach-yourself textbooks have already been published on its advice. I believe that it will keep the possibility in mind without special reference from me.
Mr Dennis Vosper: Yes, certainly. The Committee is free to consider any suggestion which is put before it by a publisher, or, indeed, by anybody else. Programmed instruction is still rather in its infancy and I think that the Committee is more likely to be attracted to established publications, but it will, no doubt, consider this aspect.
Mr Dennis Vosper: That is a rather separate question. I accept the point, however, and negotiations with the publishers are proceeding.
Mr Dennis Vosper: The arrangements for direct contact between matrons of training hospitals in Britain and prospective nursing trainees from Commonwealth countries are continuing satisfactorily. There are at present over 9,000 nursing students from these countries training in British hospitals. My Department, in consultation with the High Commissions and Students Officers of Commonwealth Governments in London,...
Mr Dennis Vosper: I am discussing all these proposals with Sir Arthur Porritt next week and I will have regard to that point. Generally speaking, unsponsored students are not covered by my Department but are covered by the satisfactory arrangements with the individual hospitals. If Sir Arthur Porritt and his colleagues think there is room for improvement, I will, of course, consider it.
Mr Dennis Vosper: A successful example is the scheme for the training of 200 Malayan nurses in Britain. The students were selected by the Malayan Government and the arrangements for training were made by my Department and the Ministry of Health in consultation with regional hospital boards. 153 students have so far been placed for training in 55 hospitals. I shall be happy to try to make similar arrangements...
Mr Dennis Vosper: There are some Nigerian nurses in this country at a more advanced level under Government arrangements. Those Nigerian nurses at student level are under the unsponsored arrangements. It is open to Nigeria to apply as Malaya did for a scheme of this nature.
Mr Dennis Vosper: I will. I intend to draw the attention of all overseas governments to the Porritt recommendations, but I cannot advise them to apply for this form of technical assistance as opposed to some form of other priority.
Mr Dennis Vosper: Together with my noble and right hon. Friends, during last year I reviewed how far our overseas information work meets the changing needs of the day. We have decided that our efforts should now be extended in three main ways. First, we propose an increase in the British Council's English language teaching and training work, including greater use of modern methods. The Council's representation...
Mr Dennis Vosper: While I might share my hon. Friend's view as expressed in the latter part of his supplementary question, that is beyond my responsibility. Regarding the first part of it, these are new services. Extra funds will be available to meet what is called "risen costs" of the existing services.