§ Lord BARNBYMy 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 whether the Working Party which has gone to Mozambique has yet reported, and, if so, by what accounting procedures they propose to prevent the diversion of grants-in-aid from approved schemes to other purposes.
Baroness LLEWELLYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, the visit by officials from the Ministry of Overseas Development to discuss the way in which British development assistance for Mozambique will be implemented has not yet taken place. The team will look at the whole range of assistance matters, including of course the monitoring of expenditure.
§ Lord BARNBYMy Lords, is the Chief Whip aware that since I put down this Question I received a gracious letter from her which helped a great deal with the information I sought and that that has now been reinforced by the Answer she has been good enough to give? Is she aware, however, of the disquieting allegations that come from informed quarters that large sums of money have been, and are being, remitted from Mozambique to a safe haven in Europe; and is this not an additional reason why there should he an unchallengeable examination to ensure that no British funds which go to Mozambique are used for external terrorist purposes?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no information whatever about such allegations and I am indeed surprised at the suggestion that this should 622 be taking place. In any case, where British assistance is concerned, there will be no problem of misappropriation of that kind.