§ 18. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state in respect of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Uganda, Trinidad and Jamaica for the year 1961–62 the total amount of Government economic assistance; and what percentage of this was returned under the arrangement negotiated by Her Majesty's Government as pensions to retired overseas civil servants.
§ Mr. TilneySince the Answer to the first part of the Question consists of a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate them in the Official Report. The Governments to which the hon. Gentleman refers pay pensions to retired overseas officers in discharge of their normal governmental responsibilities. By arrangement with the Nigerian Governments, the British Government pay the pensions of some of the Overseas Officers, who have served there, and are reimbursed from Nigerian funds.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs it not a typical piece of Treasury self-deception to describe as economic assistance money which we give the newly independent Commonwealth countries in order that they may pay it back to our people here who served the Crown while those countries were still Colonies? Will he at least ensure that this kind of self-deception is not repeated with Kenya and other countries which are approaching their independence?
§ Mr. TilneyI think that the hon. Member is possibly getting muddled up with loans for commuting pensions and also for compensation on change of office and status. That is another question.
§ Following are the figures:
| GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE DISBURSED IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1961–62 | |||
| £ thousands | |||
| Recipient country | Loans | Grants | Total |
| Nigeria | 6,551 | 1,267 | 7,818 |
| Sierra Leone | 100 | 2,737 | 2,837 |
| Tanganyika | 3,925 | 5,737 | 9,662 |
| Uganda | 3,550 | 3,089 | 6,639 |
| Trinidad/Tobago | — | 78 | 78 |
| Jamaica | 1,029 | 1,444 | 2,473 |