§ 73. Mr. Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Her Majesty's Government will make a substantial financial contribution to aid the victims of famine in Tanganyika and Kenya and the refugees from Ruanda in Uganda; and if he will arrange for the various appeals for assistance to be channelled through the East African High Commission.
§ Mr. MaudlingAs to Kenya, I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell) on 16th November.
I have not been asked to assist the Uganda Government in providing assistance to the refugees who recently arrived there from Ruanda. I should have to consider any request of this kind against the background of Uganda's general budgetary position.
In Tanganyika we have been asked for £1 million to relieve the burden on Tanganyika's finances arising from the cost of food distribution and relief works. In view of the substantial aid already promised to Tanganyika I regret that I cannot meet this request.
With regard to the second part of the Question, such a procedure would not in my view be appropriate since authorities other than the East Africa High Commission are responsible for the matters referred to.