Zambia

HC Deb 09 July 1970 vol 803 cc816-7

1. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will increase aid to Zambia.

The Minister of Overseas Development (Mr. Richard Wood)

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I am sure that the House would wish the Minister either to remain seated or to remain standing, as he chooses.

Mr. Wood

Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Speaker.

The answer to the Question is: No, Sir. I cannot promise that aid to Zambia will be increased above the level of our present commitment.

Mr. Hamilton

I take this opportunity of congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his appointment. Is he aware that the best kind of aid which could be given to Zambia would be to stop the sell-out to Rhodesia and the sale of arms to South Africa, both of which policies are disturbing Zambia very greatly?

Mr. Wood

I thank the hon. Gentleman very much for his kind remarks. The question which he asked in the last part of his supplementary question must be put to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that, when aid is sent to Zambia or to any of our other overseas territories which require aid, the conditions of receiving it—that goods should come from British sources—are underlined?

Mr. Wood

I will consider that.

4. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what plans he has for aid to Zambia in the coming financial year.

Mr. Wood

Aid to Zambia in this financial year is expected to be about £3.2 million. Most of this will go towards the cost of the Overseas Service Aid Scheme.

Mr. King

Has my right hon. Friend studied recent Zambian legislation under which British subjects, including my constituent Mr. Riley, are being robbed of their land with derisory compensation? Will he either take this into account or, if that is difficult, as it may well be, consider setting up a British-administered fund which will deal with this problem?

Mr. Wood

I ought to explain to my hon. Friend that any question concerning the Zambia Lands Acquisition Act should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Mr. James Johnson

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, following his visit to opencast mining in Mamba and copper in the North, that what Zambia needs at the moment is large numbers of English-speaking technical assistants, particularly mining engineers? What is he able to do in this direction? Can he help?

Mr. Wood

I have explained that most of the £3.2 million which we are giving to Zambia will go towards the cost of the Overseas Service Aid Scheme. I realise, as does the hon. Member, that there is a great need in Zambia for technical knowledge and know-how.