From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
6 November 1975
Dew wethermite-Smith
You wrote to David Ennals on 3 October about projects being undertaken by the voluntary agencies to help Biharis and other homeless people in Bangladesh. He explained that I have now taken over primary ministerial responsibility for the sub- continent. I am sorry that I have not written to you earlier.
I read with great interest your description of the schemes now in hand. This is clearly very valuable work and I wish it every success. As you know, we are helping Oxfam with their work in the Bustee clearance camps: £36,000 has been given by the Disaster Unit of the Ministry of Overseas Development towards the purchase of sanitation units and plastic sheeting for temporary housing.
In general, you will be aware of the Ministry of Overseas Development's scheme for the funding of joint government/agency development projects. I should like to take this opportunity to repeat David Ennals' assurance that we shall consider sympathetically requests for government assistance for voluntary agencies' projects. I quite understand, however, the difficulties the agencies face in drawing up plans..
I should be pleased to meet you and discuss all these matters at greater length. It would enable me to learn more about your work and see how best we can help. If you would like this, I should be grateful if you would contact my Private Secretary (telephone 01 233 7825) in order to arrange a convenient time.
My Kent wher
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RGA Etherington-Smith Esq CMG
Chairman, Asia Committee
Ted Rowlands
Standing Conference of British Organisations
for Aid to Refugees
International Development Centre
Parnell House
25 Wilton Road
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London SW1
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