HC Deb 24 May 1960 vol 624 cc23-4W
Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what direct or indirect financial support Great Britain has given Malta since the suspension of the constitution; and how this compares with the two years previous to the suspension of the constitution.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Direct financial aid from the United Kingdom to Malta amounted to £10.4 million during the two years from April, 1958. During the previous two-year period aid amounted to £13.2 million. Of the difference of £2.8 million, £2.3 million is accounted for by the natural decline in the amounts paid to Malta from the special grant of £30 million for war damage repairs and compensation, by far the greater part of which has now been spent. Indirect financial support has come mainly from Services expenditure in Malta by way of Maltese Forces' and civilians' pay, expenditure by United Kingdom and allied Services and dockyard personnel, purchases of Maltese goods, and contracts. Such indirect support totalled £40.8 million in the calendar years 1958 and 1959 as compared with £37.3 million in 1956 and 1957.