§ 3. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement about aid for Anguilla.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Overseas Development (Mr. Albert E. Oram)With the agreement of the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla about £55,000 was expended on development grants to Anguilla during the period of the interim settlement. The provision of aid automatically ceased when this settlement came to an end last month.
§ Mr. MartenI am much more interested in the future. What guarantee is there that the aid destined for Anguilla is not blocked by and in St. Kitts? Second, why was advice given to withdraw the V.S.O.s from Anguilla, since most of them have now returned?
§ Mr. OramThe hon. Gentleman will recognise that in aid matters we are dealing with the constitutional Government. We cannot deal direct with Anguilla. It is certainly my hope that it will be possible to resume our aid programme, but it depends on the constitutional position. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. On the question of V.S.O.s in general, our policy has to be in line with general aid policy—not always, but generally.