§ 7. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what conditions he proposes to attach to the £14,000,000 loan to Zambia.
§ 24. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the switching of Great Britain's European industrial competitiors of valuable orders from Zambia, including a 1,100 mile oil pipeline to the coast, whether he will seek to continue his conversations with the Zambian Government, initiated at the last Commonwealth Conference, requiring Great Britain's contemporary tranche of £14 million Zambian aid to be spent only on British goods and services in order to initiate a policy of British-African tied aid.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe assistance to Zambia of up to £13.85 million is related to a list of projects agreed between the Zambian Government and ourselves, designed to help Zambia reduce her economic dependence on Rhodesia, and thus take an increasing part in economic sanctions against the illegal régime.
On the question of tying this assistance to British goods and services, have nothing to add to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 26th January.
§ Mr. KingWould the Minister contradict the assertion made in the Press, which is harmful, that it was any part of 328 these negotiations that Zambia should remain in the Commonwealth?
§ Mr. ThomasI do not want to be drawn into details about the agreement, but I assure the House that, as far as I know, that was certainly not part of the understanding.
§ Sir G. NabarroThe Minister referred to Zambia reducing her "dependence on Rhodesia". Is he not aware that the pipeline referred to in my Question No. 24—a pipeline 1,100 miles long—is for the specific purpose of reducing dependence on Rhodesia? As British funds have been given to Zambia for this specific purpose, why is the Commonwealth Office allowing this important contract to be placed with our Italian competitors? Why should I subsidise Italian industry?
§ Mr. Thomasrose—
§ Sir G. NabarroCome on. Do not waste time. Get on with it.
§ Mr. ThomasI am not offended. I do not expect anything better from the hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir G. NabarroNow answer the question.
§ Mr. ThomasMr. Speaker——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Asperities do not help.
§ Mr. ThomasI was not expressing any asperities, Mr. Speaker. I had the rudeness levelled at me, and I will reply. This pipeline was not part of the Agreement to which the hon. Gentleman referred. Furthermore, it is agreed that British firms, on this question, had to compete with international firms.
§ Sir G. NabarroIn view of the most unsatisfactory reply, I beg leave to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.