HC Deb 12 May 1954 vol 527 c1231
45. Mr. T. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total amount of grants in aid and special gifts given by the British taxpayers to British Honduras since 1931.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Oliver Lyttelton)

The total sum is £3,675,344, comprising the following items:

£
Grants in aid 1,122,165
Colonial Development and Welfare schemes 2,382,896
Hurricane, 1931. Remission of outstanding loan 106,388
Loss on currency revaluation, 1950 63,895
£3,675,344

Mr. Reid

In view of this enormous generosity on the part of the British taxpayer to 75,000 people, seeing that we have about 90 million in our Dependencies, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has any hope that these people will give up the will o' the wisp of Communism and co-operate with the Government in improving their prospects?

Mr. Lyttelton

I do not think the hon. Gentleman is correct in attributing the present situation in British Honduras to Communism. While I breath, I still hope.