§ Mr. Onslowasked the Prime Minister if he will list the additional overseas aid commitments resulting directly from his recent visit to South Asia.
§ The Prime MinisterAs the House knows, I informed the Leaders of the Bangladesh and Indian Governments that if agreement could be reached among the countries directly concerned we would be 505W very ready to assist in financing a study of the control of the waters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
In India I pledged our support for a scheme to provide fertilisers to about 35,000 villages throughout India. This will involve our supplying over the next three years £30 million of fertiliser. This will be sold to the farmers in the villages concerned, and the proceeds of the sales will then be used to the direct benefit of the people in those villages.
In Pakistan I pledged our support, as part of an international effort, to a scheme to repair damage to the Tarbela Dam.
In Bangladesh I told the President that British experts could help in developing the project for liquification of natural gas.
The cost will in all cases be met within the Aid Programme, the planned level of which for the next few years has recently been announced.