§ 15. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Overseas Development which countries which have broken off diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom are in receipt of British aid; and whether it is intended to continue to give this aid.
§ Mr. BottomleySyria, Iraq and the Sudan—which notified Her Majesty's Government earlier this month that they were breaking diplomatic relations with Britain—have been in receipt of British aid. We are reviewing the question of future aid to these countries. Of the nine other countries which broke off relation as some previous time, six have been in receipt of British aid. I shall, with permission, publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs it not very demeaning for this country to go on providing aid to countries which have shown their attitude to us by breaking off diplomatic relations? How does the Minister secure that the aid is not misappropriated when there are no British representatives on the spot to check the expenditure?
§ Mr. BottomleyTechnical assistance officers have already been withdrawn from Syria and Iraq. The House will agree that the wisest course is not invariably to leap to decisions in these cases but to try to damp down the retaliations rather than encourage them.
§ Mr. William PriceWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that destitute children and old people are not always responsible for the actions of politicians, either in this country or abroad, and that diplomatic disputes are no excuse for failing to face up to our responsibilities?
§ Mr. BottomleyMy hon. Friend is quite right, but I do not think that it is fair for him to say that we are not facing up to our responsibilities. There are others who should do that as well.
§ Mr. FortescueIs it not true that although the Sudan has broken off diplomatic relations with us the Ambassador and all his staff are still there, and the Embassy is still operating perfectly normally?
§ Mr. Bottomley indicated assent.
§ Following is the information:
| AID DISBURSED IN 1966–67 TO THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BROKEN OFF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS | ||||
| £'000 | ||||
| Financial Aid | Technical Assistance | Total | ||
| Grants | Loans | |||
| Syria | — | — | 53 | 53 |
| Iraq | — | — | 31 | 31 |
| Sudan | — |
1,355 |
114 | 1,469 |
| U.A.R. | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| Algeria | — | — | — | — |
| Mauritania | — | — | — | — |
| Mali | — | — | 5 | 5 |
| Guinea | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Congo (B) | — | — | 6 | 6 |
| Tanzania |
43 |
1,256 |
2,189 | 3,488 |
| Somalia | — | — | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Guatemala | — | — | — | — |