§ Mr. DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether investigations and a full report on the conditions of the Zambesi have now been completed; and can he state what action is being taken by the Government with reference to it?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe investigations on the conditions of the Zambesi were completed last year, and a full report was received in August. This indicated that in order to cope with the flood-periods a very large increase in the total coat would be involved. The scheme was therefore referred to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee for reconsideration. After negotiations with the private interests and the consulting engineers, the committee submitted detailed recommendations, involving an allocation from the Guaranteed Loan to cover the total cost of the bridge and connected schemes and a free grant of interest from the Colonial Development Fund of an amount equal to the excess of the actual cost over the cost as previously estimated. At the same time the committee submitted a less costly design which had been put forward by the consulting engineers as a result of discussion 1973W with the committee. The less costly design has been adopted by His Majesty's Government, and a maximum grant from the fund of £500,000 has been approved. Tenders have now been invited and contracts should be placed this month. Further particulars will be found in the First Interim Report of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee (Cmd. 3540).