§ Mr. Powleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he has been able to provide to the Gambia to help deal with its current economic difficulties.
§ Mr. RaisonWe have offered The Gambia Government £2.5 million immediate programme aid to help meet their balance of payments needs, subject to their continuing to implement the economic reforms they have agreed with the IMF and World Bank. This is in addition to £3.75 million of capital aid and technical cooperation in our bilateral programme this year. We are prepared to consider further aid from April 1986 if necessary.
These offers were made at a meeting of donors to consider the needs of The Gambia which were held in London in September, which was chaired by the World Bank and for which we made the necessary arrangements as host.