§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the first draft of a development programme for 1964 to 1966 for Gambia was prepared in April, 1963, but that, owing to delay by Her Majesty's Government in deciding on the amount 96W of grant and loan moneys to be paid to Gambia during the period, the programme has not yet been completed; why this delay has taken place; and when the Gambia Government will receive the information on these matters which they require.
§ Mr. SandysA draft development programme was sent to me in April last for guidance on the amount of assistance which could be provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, on the level of recurrent expenditure that Her Majesty's Government could support and on the amount of loan funds likely to be available.
The amount to be provided from Colonial Development and Welfare funds could not be indicated until the Commonwealth Development Act, 1963, had received the Royal Assent and this was conveyed to the Gambia Government in September. Since then the Minister of Finance and Financial Secretary have visited London and guidance has been given to them on the second matter. This has enabled the Gambia Government to go ahead with the revision of their programme. I hope to send the Governor a full dispatch covering the whole subject within a few days.