HC Deb 12 April 1960 vol 621 cc119-20W
Mr. Brockway

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the annual contribution from Great Britain through the Colonial Development Fund and other funds towards the economic and social development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

Mr. Alport

The following funds have been made available to the High Commission Territories:

(1) ASSISTANCE UNDER COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE ACTS

(a) C.D. & W. Funds

The following allocations of C.D. & W. funds have been made to the three High Commission Territories under the 1955 and 1959 Acts for expenditure over the 9-year period 1955–64:—

1955 1959 Total
£ £ £
Basutoland 1,118,000 825,000 1,943,000
Bechuanaland Protectorate 1,379,000 875,000 2,254,000
Swaziland 1,025,000 2,000,000 3,025,000
Reserve…£50,000

The annual contribution on the basis of the above figures is as follows:—

£
Basutoland 215,888
Bechuanaland Protectorate 250,444
Swaziland 336,111
Reserve…£50,000

(b) Exchequer Loans

An Exchequer Loan of £200,000 was issued to Swaziland on 31st March, 1960, to help finance the general development programme.

(2) COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The following are the Corporation's commitments up to 31st December, 1959, in the High Commission Territories:—

Swaziland £14,065,000 (£8,769,000 spent)
Bechuanaland Protectorate £2,461,000 (£1,741,000 spent)

(3) GRANTS-IN-AID

The following amounts were approved in 1959–60 to enable Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate to balance their Budgets:—

£
Basutoland 120,000
Bechuanaland Protectorate 650,000