HC Deb 18 December 1964 vol 704 c156W
Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the military purposes on which agreement has been reached with the Nepalese Government, and on which Her Majesty's Government are intending to spend £715,000.

Mr. George Thomson

At the request of the Government of Nepal, Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government have agreed to provide limited defence aid to Nepal with the object of improving the communications and mobility of the army and of increasing its capacity for maintaining internal security and frontier control. The British contribution will consist of light transport aircraft, some infantry weapons and ammunition to make good certain existing deficiencies, and some related maintenance equipment. This aid is additional to and separate from the arrangements which exist between the Nepalese and Indian Governments for the supply of military equipment.