§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will cancel the £4½ million grant of overseas aid to the People's Socialist Republic of Vietnam for purchase of three cargo vessels from British Shipbuilders.
§ Mr. Neil MartenAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained to the House on 3 July, because we found that it would cost us much more to cancel these contracts than to continue them, we have decided to pay all the grant promised by the Labour Government towards the cost of four British-built ships for Vietnam. But we shall give no new aid to Vietnam while present circumstances continue. The aid instalments for the ships are being paid, at various stages of662W construction, through the Crown Agents straight to the shipbuilders in Britain.