HC Deb 30 May 1968 vol 765 c2114
15. Mr. Henry Clark

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what special assistance this country has given the island of Rodrigues in its recent successive hurricane disasters.

Mr. Oram

In these sad circumstances Her Majesty's Government have given emergency relief amounting to £8,000 to help with the immediate problem. I have told our High Commissioner that I will consider sympathetically any proposal by the Mauritius Government for using some of our aid at present allocated to that country to meet the cost of longer term restoration work in Rodrigues.

Mr. Clark

Does not the recurrence of these disasters emphasise the need for some British naval presence in the Indian Ocean? Could the hon. Gentleman discuss this matter with the Minister of Defence?

Mr. Oram

That, of course, is not a matter for my Ministry, but I will call the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the supplementary question.