§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will have discussions with the Zambian Government regarding the cost of replacing the 10 bridges destroyed by Rhodesian military forces;
(2) if he will increase aid to Zambia to pay for the cost of restoring the 10 bridges destroyed by Rhodesian military forces.
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§ Mr. Neil MartenWe offered to make available for reconstruction purposes part of the £10 million project loan to Zambia, signed on 24 January. The Zambian Government preferred the loan to be devoted entirely to agricultural development and we were happy to accept this. Zambia's needs for further aid for reconstruction or for other purposes will be kept under review.
The European development fund has agreed to provide 1.7 million European units of account towards the reconstruction of the Chambeshi and Lunsemfwa bridges. The United Kingdom contributes to the fund and strongly supported this proposal.
§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise the question of additional aid to Zambia at the next meeting of the Development Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Neil MartenNo. We believe that satisfactory provision for Zambia's needs has already been made by the European Community, through Zambian participation in the arrangements under the Lomé convention, and through the Community's food aid programme.
Under the Lomé convention, Zambia benefits from the European development fund—from which it will receive 47 mua (£30 million)—as well as from preferential trade provisions, the stabex scheme, emergency assistance, and loans from the European Investment Bank.
Zambia will receive comparable benefits from the second Loméconvention, which should enter into force later this year, and which also includes special provisions to assist mineral producing countries. Zambia was allocated 10,000 tonnes of cereals, 1500 tonnes of skimmed milk powder, and 500 tonnes of butter oil from the Community's 1979 food programme.