§ 17. Mr. C. Royleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what economic aid, in grant or loan, is being offered to British Guiana, as a result of the breakdown of independence talks and the present financial problems of the Colony.
§ Mr. FisherWe are already providing some £12¾ million towards the current development programme, which covers the period 1960–64. By the end of this year it is expected that something of the order of £4 million will still remain to be drawn.
§ Mr. RoyleIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that very serious financial difficulties have arisen in British Guiana, particularly as a result of delay in the coming of independence? Does not this call for some extra aid from Her Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. FisherI do not think that any particular extra difficulties have arisen out of the delay on independence, which 200 certainly was not the fault of Her Majesty's Government in any case; it was the fault of the two parties, who completely failed to agree on almost every single thing that we discussed. As for the economic situation, probably the root cause of the whole trouble there is the contraction of trade due to the loss of political confidence. That is something about which we cannot do anything here.