Malta

HC Deb 22 January 1970 vol 794 cc667-8

4. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will now make a statement on aid to Malta.

14. Mr. Fisher

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will now announce the terms of British aid to Malta during the second five-year period.

17. Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when she will reach a definitive agreement with the Government of Malta on the forms of financial aid promised under the 1964 agreement; and whether she will make a statement.

Mr. Whitaker

I have nothing at this moment to add to what I said on this subject on 11th December.

Mr. Wall

Is it not an absolute disgrace that Malta has had no aid for ten months, and is the Minister saying that after the recent Adjournment debate in this House nothing further has been done to resolve this ungenerous attitude by the Government?

Mr. Whitaker

The hon. Gentleman may recollect from the Adjournment debate in December that it was agreed by all hon. Members that aid should be resumed to Malta as soon as possible. I only wish that we were in a position to announce agreement today.

Mr. Fisher

Could the hon. Gentleman not explain to the House why a relatively minor matter such as this is taking so long to resolve, much to the detriment of our relations with Malta and to the great inconvenience of the Malta Government? Surely the House is entitled to some answer.

Mr. Whitaker

The negotiations are still proceeding and are confidential, but I am sure that the House will feel that, with reasonableness on both sides, agreement can be reached.

Mr. Hastings

Is the Minister not well aware that since the beginning of this mean wrangling the case of the British Government has been based solely upon the weakness of the balance of payments. Now that we are told that we have such a splendid balance of payments what possible reason can there be for not meeting our obligations fully and reaching a generous agreement on the loan/grant ratio forthwith?

Mr. Whitaker

The case of the British Government rests on the 1964 financial agreement, which was entered into by the previous Administration.