HL Deb 13 March 1967 vol 281 cc4-6

2.40 p.m.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what for the last three years of Colonial rule was the total revenue of Botswana and what proportion thereof constituted subvention in any form by the United Kingdom taxpayer; further, what commitment, if any, for continued assistance has been promised.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD BESWICK)

My Lords, recurrent revenues of Botswana for the three-year period from 1964 to 1967 are estimated to be £15.4 million. Included in this figure are budgetary grants, reimbursements under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme and compensation loans from Britain estimated to total £7½ million. In addition, during the same period Britain made available grants and loans totalling £4.9 million for development purposes (including £314,000 through the Commonwealth Development Corporation), as well as £475,000 for technical assistance. The British Government have agreed to provide up to £13 million budgetary and development aid to Botswana for the three years beginning in April, 1967, in addition to compensation loans and technical assistance.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, if I have been able to follow all the figures given by the noble Lord, I suggest that the ratio in the future will be something like £13 million subvention to £15 million total revenue. Arising out of that reply, is it to be understood that that includes the cost of the Francistown Radio; and, if it does, is it right to assume that, since it is a subvention from Her Majesty's Government, Her Majesty's Government provide the material which is shot by the radio?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Francistown Radio is a quite separate item, which is not covered at all by what I have said.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether, in view of the exposed position of Botswana to the Republic of South Africa, the Government will do their utmost to develop self-sufficiency in its economy so that it will not have to become subservient to the apartheid régime in South Africa?

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, before the noble Lord replies, may I ask him whether it it is to be understood from his original reply that the £13 million subvention falls within the £15 million total revenue?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, in answer to my noble friend Lord Brockway, I entirely agree with him about the special difficulties of Botswana, and I should have hoped he would agree, from the figures I have given, that we are determined to do all that is possible to enable those brave people to build up their economy. The noble Lord, Lord Barnby, asked me whether the £13 million is within the £15 million recurrent revenue. The £15 million recurrent revenue is for the three-year period up to the present time; the £13 million is for the three-year period from now.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that explanation, I would ask him whether there is any reason to suppose that there is going to be a marked change in the country's normal revenue. If not, Her Majesty's Government will be providing supplementary revenue equal to about 85 per cent. of the total revenue.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, we shall see how we get on. We have committed ourselves to £13 million in aid, plus the compensation loans and the technical assistance. That is a commitment which was entered into when Botswana achieved independence. The development of the country in the future will, of course, be a matter to be taken into account when we come to consider future aid.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I hope the noble Lord will pardon my persistence, but it appears that there are no grounds for assuming that there is going to be any material change in the revenue in the future as against the past three years. Is that what we are to understand?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Botswana people are dealing with terri- tory which is extremely difficult, so far as wresting a living is concerned. But I am glad to say that there is a possibility that there may be minerals there. If these indications prove to be well founded it will change the position entirely in that country. In the meantime we shall continue to give what economic aid is possible.