§ Mr. Callaghan(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further aid he proposes to give to the people of Mauritius in view of the additional destruction caused by the second cyclone, and in view of the urgency for rendering help what steps he is taking to organise assistance with the greatest possible expedition.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Iain Macleod)As the House may have heard, the cruiser "Gambia" is already on its way to Mauritius and R.A.F. aircraft are standing by to take relief supplies to the Colony. I have asked the Governor to let me know urgently what supplies and what type of assistance are most required.
This morning I discussed with the Ministerial Delegation from Mauritius the emergency relief measures which would probably be needed. As a result, I have put in hand arrangements for making available supplies of corrugated iron for temporary housing, copper wire for the repair of power lines, and tents, clothing, blankets and field kitchens to help those whose homes have been destroyed.
I promised the Mauritian Delegation that I would arrange for an outside expert assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone to be undertaken with a view to considering the further assistance which the Mauritius Government will require from Her Majesty's Government. The House will have noted that Her Majesty's Government had already undertaken, subject to the approval of Parliament as necessary, to make available to the Mauritius Government assistance of up to £2 million in grants and loans, towards the cost of the rehabilitation measures necessitated by the earlier cyclone which hit the Colony last month.
In conclusion, I know that the House would wish to unite in sending a message of deep sympathy to the people of Mauritius in the disaster they have suffered.
§ Mr. CallaghanWe should certainly wish to send our sympathy to these unfortunate people after the second cruel blow which has been struck against them 843 within a month. We are glad to hear of the emergency measures taken by the Secretary of State.
Having said that, may I ask whether the Colonial Secretary is aware that we are dissatisfied with the speed, the target and the niggardliness of the relief which it was proposed to make available to Mauritius after the first cyclone? Is he aware that I was in touch with his office on 18th February, and put forward three proposals for speeding up the relief, but that so far I have received no reply to the representations which I made then? Although I understand that the nearest warship was 2,500 miles away, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the proposals I made then had been taken up it would be within striking distance of Mauritius, if not already there?
As we do not often have a chance of discussing the affairs of this Colony, may I further ask him whether it is sensible to offer an amount of assistance which will only enable the mud huts destroyed by the cyclone to be replaced by other mud huts? In view of the second blow which has been struck so quickly, would not it be more long-sighted on the part of the Government for them to make an amount of assistance available which would enable the houses destroyed to be replaced with permanent, durable, anticyclone houses?
§ Mr. MacleodThe hon. Gentleman is making a number of false assumptions. The actual cost to the Mauritius Government after the first cyclone—"Alex"—was £900,000. The amount of assistance which Her Majesty's Government have said that we were prepared to offer was £2 million. There is no question of replacing mud huts with mud huts, but, 844 naturally, after this second "cruel blow"—I take the words of the hon. Gentleman—we must think again on this matter. Of course, we shall have to go beyond the figure that we have announced.
On the question of immediate aid, I think that if the hon. Member studies the statement I have made, he will see that as soon as the first message reached the Colonial Office yesterday morning we started immediately organising first-aid relief for the Colony.
§ Mr. CallaghanI am glad to hear that. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that if his office had conveyed his reply to my representations I should be better informed now than he says that I am? In the meantime, I must believe the information given to me; but perhaps we had better return to this subject when we discuss the Estimates.
§ Mr. WallRegarding the second cyclone, can my right hon. Friend say whether all the aid which has been requested has been supplied and whether the provision of further aid will require the chartering of special aircraft and ships?
§ Mr. MacleodIt may well require special measures. When I met the Mauritius Ministers this morning we discussed all the immediate assistance which could be made available from a wide area and I think that we were in agreement about what should be done. We have not yet full information from the Colony about the extent of the damage, but whatever the extent may be, the first task is to bring immediate aid, and those measures are in train. The second and longer-term measures are to help with the rehabilitation of the Colony.