§ Sir F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on what conditions as regards their use have arms and military equipment been provided as aid to India.
§ Mr. BottomleyIn responding to requests from the Government of India, the United Kingdom Government agreed
122WZambia. It excludes military aid, British private investment in those countries, and aid received by them from the various international aid-giving institutions to whose funds Britain makes substantial contributions. Disbursements of benefit generally to overseas countries cannot be allocated to particular recipients and are also excluded. Apart from Exchequer advances to the Commonwealth Development Corporation totalling £1 million for investment in projects in Zambia, which are included in the figure for loans, and the amounts made available to the East African Common Services Organisation (see footnote (b)), all the aid was provided on a Government to Government basis.
As to the objectives and achievements of this aid I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his non oral Questions of 11th November.
The table shows, so far as it is possible, the estimated number of Britons employed by the Governments of these countries at independence and at the present time.
to provide the Government of India with arms and military equipment for the purpose of defending India against Chinese aggression. The Exchange of Letters between Mr. Sandys and Mr. Chavan giving effect to this agreement took place on the 27th November, 1962, and was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT Of the 29th November, 1962.
The understandings of the United Kingdom Government, which were accepted 123W by the Government of India, were that the Government of India:
- (a) would obtain the consent of the United Kingdom Government prior to the transfer of title to or possession of any arms and equipment so provided and would take appropriate measures to protect their security;
- (b) would offer necessary facilities to representatives of the United Kingdom Government attached to the staff of the British High Commissioner in India for the purpose of observing and reviewing the use of these arms and equipment and would provide them with such information as might be necessary for that purpose; and
- (c) would offer for return to the United Kingdom Government such items as were no longer needed for the purpose for which they were provided.