§ 1. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the Government's aid and development policies towards Tanzania.
§ 20. Mr. Goodhartasked the Minister of Overseas Development if it is the intention of the Government to extend aid to Tanzania in 1969.
§ The Minister of Overseas Development (Mr. Reg Prentice)I have nothing to add to my statements on 20th June and during a debate on 26th July when I told the House that it was regrettably necessary to bring our aid to Tanzania to an end and when I set out at some length the reasons for this decision.—[Vol. 766, c. 174–6; Vol. 769, 1248–53.]
§ Mr. JuddIs my right hon. Friend aware that, at a time when the Government seem able to offer £50 million for an assistance programme to Rhodesia, many people find it incredible that we are unable to give assistance to a friendly Commonwealth country which places so much emphasis on sound principles of self-reliance?
§ Mr. PrenticeI agree with my hon. Friend's judgment of the sound principles of Tanzanian economic policy, but, as he knows, the reason for cutting off our aid was connected with Tanzania's repudiation of its pension obligations and I am afraid that, in the circumstances, our decision was inevitable.
§ Mr. GoodhartWhen it comes to the distribution of aid, will the right hon. Gentleman remember that there are many countries with greater administrative competence than Tanzania which follow a less disruptive foreign policy and which are badly in need of British assistance?
§ Mr. PrenticeI shall not follow the hon. Gentleman in his implications but I agree that many countries need more development aid, whether from Britain or from other donor countries. They depend on a greater effort for development aid throughout the world.