HC Deb 30 June 1975 vol 894 cc1013-4
53. Mr. Canavan

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will take steps to increase the amount of aid given to Sri Lanka.

Mr. John Grant

A new pledge of £8 million capital aid was made at the Sri Lanka Aid Group meeting held in Paris in April. This compares with pledges of £1 million in 1973 and £3 million in 1974.

In addition, equipment worth £350,000 is to be provided for Sri Lanka's crash food programme, and we hope also to increase our technical assistance programme.

Mr. Canavan

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the disgusting exploitation of labour that goes on in Sri Lanka, leading to degrading and inhuman conditions for tea plantation workers and their families? Will my hon. Friend take immediate steps to provide more aid bearing in mind that although Sri Lanka is one of the poorest countries in the world and is a member of the Commonwealth, she is excluded from the list of 46 countries which receive priority aid under the Common Market Lomé Convention?

Mr. Grant

I have already dealt with the question of aid to non-associates. I assure my hon. Friend that we shall continue to press hard on that matter. I The issue of the tea estates is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and, as the House knows, he is pursuing that matter actively.

Sir John Hall

Is the hon. Gentleman sure that any aid given to Sri Lanka is distributed so that the benefits are enjoyed by everyone, including the large numbers of stateless Tamils in the country?

Mr. Grant

There are difficulties about the distribution of aid. Our aim is to try to ensure that aid goes to the poorest people in the poorest countries, and, in particular, into rural development, which may benefit particularly the people whom the hon. Gentleman has in mind. But it is difficult for us to be sure. In the end it is very much a matter for the Government of Sri Lanka.