§ 48. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to provide aid for the state of Gujerat, India for the year 1986.
§ Mr. RaisonIn 1986 we expect to complete expenditure of the £43 million committed to the construction of two fertiliser plants at Hazira in Gujerat. We shall also continue our £2 million support for the integrated rural development project in Anand, which is helping to improve community health and family welfare in some 200 villages in Gujerat.
§ Mr. JannerIs the Minister aware of the great concern felt among the Gujerati community in this country at the suffering being experienced in the state of Gujerat due to the ravages of natural miseries that keep occurring, and to which none of the Minister's proposed resources apply? Is there no hope, for example, of matching aid being made available if the community in Britain raises money in order to help those who are suffering in the state of Gujerat?
§ Mr. RaisonWe consider joint funding schemes from charitable organisations, and are always willing to do so but in respect of official aid we have to respond to the priorities set down by the Indian Government, and we cannot go behind their backs and come up with our own programmes.