§ 5. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial settlement, by way of special loans or grants, is being made to Trinidad and Tobago to coincide with independence.
§ Mr. SandysThe discussions on this matter are not yet completed.
§ Mr. ChapmanWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these two islands need not only grants but access as much as possible to loans raised not merely from the British Goverrnment but on the London market? Will he give an assurance that in any decisions 211 taken, particularly with regard to Trinidad, an attempt will be made to make loans available particularly for a big housing drive in Trinidad, which would do more fully to stabilise the economy than any other thing that we could do at the moment?
§ Mr. SandysThe Premier of Trinidad and Tobago explained to Her Majesty's Government his country's needs whilst he was here. He has now returned to Trinidad, but the discussions are continuing with the representative of the Trinidad Government in London. I am sure that the points mentioned by the hon. Gentleman will feature in those discussions.
§ Mr. StracheyOne of the very best things which the night hon. Gentleman could do to help would be to extend the Colonial Development Corporation's operations to these newly independent territories—for example, in respect of housing—which would probably do more than anything else to ensure the continued development of these islands.
§ Mr. SandysThe right hon. Gentleman and I are agreed on this matter. I hope to be in a position to make a statement on that subject before very long.