§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will step up the flow of aid promised for the rehabilitation of workers' accommodation on British-owned tea estates in Sylhet, Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThe rate at which aid funds are taken up for improving workers' housing on tea estates in Bangladesh, including British owned ones, depends crucially on decisions by the individual estates. Funds are immediately available and procedures for their use have been agreed with the Government of Bangladesh. We are monitoring expenditure and will do all we can to speed up the rate of disbursement.