HC Deb 23 May 1966 vol 729 cc4-6
4. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conclusions have been reached in discussions with the Indonesian Government on the manner in which British financial assistance will be employed.

29. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to aid for Indonesia.

39. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received as to how the £1 million given to Indonesia will be spent.

Mr. M. Stewart

I explained the policy of Her Majesty's Government to the House on 29th April, when I described our offer of one million pounds of emergency aid. Negotiations with the Indonesian Government are still proceeding and we hope to have a formal indication of Indonesian requirements very shortly. We shall then be able to decide on the best and speediest means of meeting their requests.

Mr. Farr

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure that our gift to Indonesia is provided by way of goods and services rather than by cash? Is he aware that there are many ways in which the living standard of the teeming millions in Indonesia could be raised, and that our exporters would welcome every opportunity to help?

Mr. Stewart

We are awaiting a statement from the Indonesian Government of what goods and services would be most helpful to them. It is probable that most of them will be supplied from this country. The whole gift was related to the economic needs of Indonesia.

Mr. Blaker

Has the Government's offer of £1 million in aid been accepted in principle by Indonesia, and what is now the attitude of the British Government towards the supply of aid to Indonesia by those Governments which are friendly towards Britain? Are we now encouraging such aid?

Mr. Stewart

The hon. Member may recollect that when I first made the statement to the House about this, it was made at that time because it had then, and not before, been accepted in principle by Indonesia. Our gift followed gifts by a number of our friends and we are fully in sympathy with their attitude in making those gifts.

Lord Balniel

Can the right hon. Gentleman say something about the nature of the talks now taking place to end confrontation?—Can he say whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to play a part in these talks?

Mr. Stewart

I do not think that I can say very much about the progress of the talks. It is, I am glad to say, the fact that there are to be talks between the Indonesian and Malaysian Governments. The part which we shall play has yet to be considered, but we are anxious to do anything that we can to bring confrontation to an end on terms acceptable to both parties.

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