§ 28. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what grants and loans have been received respectively by Aden Colony and the Aden Protectorate during the past five years from Her Majesty's Government and from other than Colony and Protectorate sources; and, in particular, which is the total amount advanced in respect of the Abyan and other irrigation schemes.
§ Mr. H. FraserGrants by Her Majesty's Government to the Colony and the Protectorate during the last five years total £596,000 and £5,378,000 respectively; loans amount to £1,020,000 and £6,000 respectively. A further £5,694,000 has been spent directly by Her Majesty's Government on Protectorate services. There have been no grants or loans from other external sources. The grants to the Protectorate include about £100,000 for irrigation works, but no grants have been made to the Abyan scheme during this period.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes that mean that no funds have been secured from, say, the Nuffield Trust, U.N.E.S.C.O., or any body of that kind? Further, in view of the very encouraging success of the Abyan scheme, is it contemplated that 1126 similar schemes should be started elsewhere; and should not even greater subventions than have been given be made available for the Protectorate and the Colony?
§ Mr. FraserYes, Sir, we are looking into this. Our inspector is out there. We hope at present to recruit two more irrigation engineers and hydrologists, and three schemes are now being contemplated.