§ Mr. Worsleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have made any contribution to the fund set up in Muscat to help the victims of the recent disastrous fires in that town and in Mattrah, both in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerYes. We understand that 3,000 or more people have been rendered homeless by these fires. Materials for reconstruction are, we understand, available locally, and there is no shortage of food supplies. Her Majesty's Government have decided that their best means of helping would be to make a cash contribution to the Relief Fund set up in Muscat. Accordingly, Her Majesty's Consul-General in Muscat is being authorised to inform the organisers of the Relief Fund that Her Majesty's Government will contribute £5,000 to it. Parliament will in due course be asked to vote that amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.