HC Deb 24 July 1991 vol 195 cc672-3W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the freezing of the £13 million aid package to Sri Lanka following the expulsion of the British High Commissioner.

Mrs. Chalker

Her Majesty's Government's position, which has been explained to the Sri Lankan Government, is that we have withdrawn a conditional offer of £3 million of balance of payments assistance as an expression of our concern about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The possibility of any major new aid commitments will be considered in the light of Sri Lankan Government policies and practices including the position on human rights. The reference to a £13 million aid freeze in the press was based on a misunderstood briefing.

Certain existing aid financed activities are continuing. These are mainly in the fields of education and training, local government strengthening, relief and rehabilitation programmes through NGOs, forestry and urban road rehabilitation. Their estimated cost to the British aid programme will be about £10 million this year.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial, military, cultural and economic aid is given to Sri Lanka, apart from the recently frozen £13 million package.

Mrs. Chalker

British bilateral development aid to Sri Lanka was £23.5 million in 1989 the latest year for which detailed figures are available. This was made up of financial aid totalling £15.331 million, and technical co-operation totalling £8.222 million. No cultural aid or other economic aid is given. The figures are expected to have been substantially less in 1990, partly because of the security situation. Our aid is focused on natural resources, power, roads, education and relief and rehabilitation.

Specific details of military assistance are normally confidential between the countries concerned. Members of the Sri Lankan armed forces have, however, attended a number of courses in the United Kingdom given by the three services. We hope this training will instil the discipline and high professional and ethical standards of our own forces.