§ 68 and 69. Mr. Masonasked the First Secretary of State (1) to what extent Her Majesty's Government are committed to cover the expected annual deficit of Nyasaland; for how long they are so committed; and whether any conditions have been laid down regarding the uses of money granted by Her Majesty's Government;
89W(2) whether he is aware that the recent grant from Her Majesty's Government to help Nyasaland's economy together with similar aid from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and the Overseas Aid Scheme means that Great Britain is subsidising Nyasaland's economy by 5s. in the £ sterling; whether moneys of this kind are to be used for developing a Government-owned newspaper and broadcasting service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerHer Majesty's Government have agreed to assist Nyasaland in meeting the deficit on the recurrent budget for 1962–63 up to a maximum of £1.5 million. The position will be reviewed from year to year, and meanwhile the supervision appropriate to a grant-aided Territory will be applied.
Her Majesty's Government have also undertaken in general terms to make available up to the 31st March, 1964, £2.9 million in new Colonial Development and Welfare grants and loans towards expenditure to be approved by themselves on the development budget. The exact purposes to which this add will be put have yet to be decided. This is broadly comparable with the scale of assistance given to Nyasaland's previous development programmes. The Overseas Service Aid Scheme assistance of course follows generally the pattern set for all territories.