HC Deb 09 November 1967 vol 753 cc1228-9
15. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the aid given to Botswana.

Mr. Prentice

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given by my predecessor on 6th February this year to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Dr. Ernest A. Davies), when he said that the British Government had offered to provide the Government of Botswana with up to £13 million budgetary and development aid in the three years beginning the 1st April, 1967. This offer was accepted by the Government of Botswana.—[Vol. 740, c. 233–4.]

Mr. Wall

While I welcome the generous aid given to Botswana, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that recent security difficulties have been created because of the arrest of armed infiltrators? Will he consider a further grant to enable the very efficient Botswana police force to be increased in size?

Mr. Prentice

Some part of our aid is already used for assistance to the police force. I know that the Botswana Government are concerned about the situation to which the hon. Member refers and are taking extra steps to deal with it.

Mr. Judd

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that in the context of the political tensions in Southern Africa we should take every opportunity to extend the aid programme to Botswana in order to give real political substance to her independence and release her from exclusive reliance upon the Union of South Africa?

Mr. Prentice

I have sympathy with that. The aid to Botswana is on a relatively generous scale. We give about 90 per cent. of the aid received by her. I recently had talks with the Vice-President of Botswana, and he expressed appreciation to Her Majesty's Government for what we are doing.