§ 46. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any recent communications from the Club Méditerranée concerning its plans for building in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
§ 53. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Club Méditerannée concerning the establishment of a holiday village on the Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and when he expects it to fulfil its agreement.
§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Timothy Raison)On 21 January I had discussions in London with Monsieur Trigano, the president of Club Méditerranée. He informed me that he is in active discussion with a number of contractors and assured me that a binding contract would be signed by 31 March. I made it clear that, unless a contract satisfactory to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is signed by then, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government will initiate legal proceedings.
§ Mr. SpearingI thank the Minister for that reply, his first since taking up his new office. May I draw his attention to the reply given by his Department to the Foreign Affairs Committee in Cmnd 8386, in which the Government refute the recommendation that the Minister should be told when a consultant's figures are changed? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures were "cooked" and changed in respect of this hotel development? Does he not think that the whole of the reply deserves his attention and perhaps reappraisal by the Government?
§ Mr. RaisonI have no reason to believe that the reply was wrong. However, in view of the hon. Gentleman's kindly welcome to me, I shall look into the matter.
§ Mr. Bowen WellsI congratulate my right hon. Friend on taking up his office and on his reply today. Does he not agree that the establishment of a tourist industry on the Turks and Caicos Islands is the only way in which the islands can look forward to an economically viable future?
§ Mr. RaisonI am grateful to my hon. Friend. I believe that this project is potentially of great value to the islands.
§ Mr. Brocklebank-FowlerMay I add my congratula-tions to the right hon. Gentleman and ask him when he expects construction of the airport to be completed? How many other jobs and new industries, apart from Club Méditerranée, does he expect will be started in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the coming year?
§ Mr. RaisonAgain, I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I believe that the airport project should be completed soon. I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a specific list of the number of other works now going on. There are, however, other significant developments on the islands.
§ Mr. BanksI welcome my right hon. Friend to his new position on the Front Bench and his statement today. Does he not agree that the construction of the airport, which was agreed in conjunction with Club Méditerranée originally, will be of tangible benefit to the islands and will open up opportunities for other developments in addition to that which he has announced today?
§ Mr. RaisonI agree with my hon. Friend—who, again, I thank—that there are other opportunities. Nevertheless, I stress that it is essential to get on with the Club Méditerranée project.
§ Mr. FoulkesI congratulate the Minister on meeting Monsieur Trigano so quickly after taking over. How can he guarantee that Monsieur Trigano will meet his promises? In the past, Monsieur Trigano has been rather long on promises and short on performance. What guarantees have been given that he will perform as he says and get this project off the ground by 31 March?
§ Mr. RaisonIf Monsieur Trigano does not get on with his guarantees I have made it clear that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government will initiate legal proceedings.