§ 1. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the contribution being made by projects financed by Great Britain towards the relief of famine in India; and when such projects were started.
§ The Minister of Overseas Development (Mr. Anthony Greenwood)The British Government made available in February this year an interest-free loan of £7.5 million to help India with her present food crisis. Since the purpose of this loan was to provide immediate assistance, no part of it was tied to 1396 specific projects. In agreement with the Government of India, it will be used towards the foreign exchange costs of shipping emergency supplies of wheat and other foodstuffs from Commonwealth countries, the provision of grain handling equipment for Indian ports and the purchase of commodities of immediate value in helping to deal with the emergency, including pesticides and fertilisers.
In addition, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 26th April, the Government of India have accepted with pleasure our offer to make immediately available as an advance instalment of Britain's aid pledge for 1966–67, loans of £17 million directed to India's pressing economic problems, among which is the food shortage. [HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] Once again, this money will be immediately available for a wide range of essential imports and not tied to specific projects.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I hope that Ministers will attempt to answer briefly.