HC Deb 23 February 1965 vol 707 cc209-11
6. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much technical assistance has been given to the Government of Ceylon subsequent to the recent disasters on the island.

Mrs. Castle

No technical assistance specifically related to the damage caused by the cyclone has been given.

Mr. Lewis

With her enthusiasm for technical aid, will the right hon. Lady consider giving help in this particular case because it is one where technical aid is much better than money, and will she bear in mind also that there is great scope for the use of overseas service in Ceylon and try to encourage this?

Mrs. Castle

We give technical assistance only at the request of Governments, and we have not received any request for special technical assistance for this purpose from the Government of Ceylon.

21. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid has been given to the Government of Ceylon since January, 1964.

Mrs. Castle

The Government of Ceylon has made drawings amounting to approximately £600,000 against the 1961 loan for telecommunications equipment and has also received technical assistance to the value of £114,000. The provision of emergency aid worth £26,000 to victims of the cyclone that struck the island in December was announced in the House on 19th January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.

Mr. Lewis

What does the right hon. Lady expect for the coming year? Will she bear in mind in fixing aid for Ceylon that good relations between this country and Ceylon are very desirable, but that it is to be hoped that the Government of Ceylon will bear in mind that its relationships with this country and its interests in Ceylon should also be on a friendly footing?

Mrs. Castle

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has made it clear on more than one occasion that he has brought this fact to the attention of the Government of Ceylon, but, as it happens, no new programmes of assistance are in prospect.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Will the right hon. Lady undertake that when she next discusses aid to Ceylon she will take the opportunity of pointing out the hardship being experienced by those who have given their working lives and capital to help Ceylon and who are now entirely dependent on income from Ceylon for a pension or a livelihood?

Mrs. Castle

I have already covered that in my previous answer. In any case, as I have said, no new programmes of assistance are in prospect, so the question does not arise.

Mr. John Wells

In the coming year, will the right hon. Lady consider in particular the difficulties of the hill school at Nuwara Eliya?

Mrs. Castle

I will certainly look into that.