§ 18. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister for Overseas Development what aid in the form of grants for capital projects has been given in the current financial year to the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Congo, Kinshasa, and Somalia, respectively.
§ Mr. OramIt is estimated that in the 1968–69 financial year grants amounting to about £38,000 will have been provided to the Central African Republic. No capital aid for projects has been disbursed in 1968–69 to Ethiopia, the Congo, Kinshasa, or the Somali Republic.
§ Mr. JohnsonBearing in mind the single figure which my hon. Friend has given and not forgetting that Somalia was once part of the Commonwealth and is closely linked to us by language and other ties, would my hon. Friend urge his right hon. Friend to keep in mind, when fixing next year's aid budget, the fact that the old capital of North Somali, Hargeisa, still needs a piped water system?
§ Mr. OramWe shall certainly bear that in mind. To answer the main point of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, which was concerned with Somalia, he will be aware that there is, as I indicated in an earlier Answer, a considerable programme of technical assistance being built up.