§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what proposals he has for providing a pension or other financial assistance for the Sultan of Zanzibar and his ex-Ministers.
§ Mr. SandysAs I told the House on 27th January, the British Government have made advances to the former Sultan of Zanzibar to cover his initial living expenses here. We have now decided to make a payment to him of £100,000. 119W Of this, £1,000 will be used to repay advances already made to him, and a further £9,000 will be required to cover his immediate obligations. The balance will be held in a Trust Fund, the interest on which will be paid to the Sultan, while he remains in Britain. If he decides to live permanently abroad, the Trust will be terminated and the capital paid over to him. The House will be asked in due course to vote the necessary Supplementary Estimate. Meanwhile a further advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.
No assistance is being provided for former Zanzibar Ministers.