§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what decision he has made, following the rejection by the Trinidad Government of the British offer of financial aid on independence, about the future of unspent balances of colonial development and welfare moneys attributable to capital development of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.
§ Mr. SandysMy action is determined by the wording of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1959. One effect of this Act is that, after the independence of Trinidad and Tobago, the British Government have no power to continue contributing funds to the University of the 231W West Indies in respect of Trinidad's share of the agreed capital development programme. The contribution falls to be made by the independent Government of Trinidad and Tobago instead (and similarly by Jamaica)—though, if our proposed financial settlement had been accepted by the Trinidad Government, it would have been possible for us to reimburse them. We are at present in correspondence with the Governments of Jamaica and of Trinidad and Tobago, and with the University, upon this situation.