§ Sir C. Mott-Radclyffeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about military assistance by Her Majesty's Government to the Sudan Government.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyThe hon. Member will have seen the announcement in the Press on 18th October. The Sudan has had difficulties in the past two years in disposing of her cotton, and the resulting financial difficulties threatened to hold up the planned modernisation of the Sudanese Army. The close connections between this country and the Sudan, and the fact that we have been the traditional suppliers of equipment to the Sudanese Army, made it natural that in this difficulty the Sudanese Government turned to Her Majesty's Government for help.
The help we are proposing to give consists of arms, equipment and ammunition. Part of these stores are surplus to the requirements of the British Army and part will require replacement. We 10W are also proposing to provide free training for some Sudanese military pilots. The equipment is urgently needed by the Sudanese and it is therefore our intention to start shipping the stores immediately. The House will, in due course, be asked to approve the necessary financial provision for reimbursement to the Service Departments by way of a Supplementary Estimate for Foreign Office Grants and Services.