HC Deb 01 June 1965 vol 713 cc176-7W
16. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement about her visit to Tanzania.

19. Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions she had with European farmers in the Arusha area of Tanzania; and what steps she took to restore the confidence of the British farmers in the area.

Mrs. Castle

The purpose of my visit to Tanzania from 22nd to 28th April was to discuss Tanzania's development plans and how our aid can help with their implementation.

This was my first visit to that country, and I had frank and useful talks with President Nyerere and his Ministers in Dar es Salaam. I was able to visit Zanzibar and Pemba islands, and to talk with Vice-President Karume and his Ministers. I also had discussions with representatives of the British community, including Government servants, businessmen, farmers, teachers and volunteers.

The Tanzanian Government told me that they had a pressing need for a study of the obstacles hampering the implementation of Tanzania's five year development plan, and I agreed to send a team of economists to undertake this study.

As regards the problems of British farmers in Arusha which I was able to learn about at first hand, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations informed the House on 4th May of the decision of the Tanzanian Government to set up regional Committees to advise on land usage, and that there would be representatives of the expatriate farming community on these Committees. Moreover, it has been reaffirmed that compensation will be paid for unexhausted improvements to those farmers whose rights of occupancy have been revoked. I greatly hope that these developments and the discussions I held on them have contributed to a restoration of confidence in Arusha and will help to bring about closer and more cordial co-operation between the British community there and the Tanzanian authorities.