§ 31. Mr. Barnesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding new economic assistance for Pakistan from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WoodI have nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary made on 23rd June.—[Vol. 819, c. 1436–37.]
§ Mr. BarnesIn view of the report of the World Bank on Pakistan, which shows an astonishing amount of ignorance on the part of the Government of Pakistan about the true situation in East Pakistan, can the right hon. Gentleman reaffirm that there will be no new economic assistance to Pakistan, as distinct from any relief operation in which Britain might engage in East Pakistan, until there is a political settlement acceptable to the people of East Pakistan?
§ Mr. WoodWhat I am prepared to confirm are the actual words of the statement which my right hon. Friend made at the end of last month, in which he said that there was no question of new British aid—that is what the hon. Gentleman asked about—until we have firm evidence that real progress is made towards a political solution. That is what my right hon. Friend said, and that remains the position.