HC Deb 27 May 1966 vol 729 c189W
Sir C. Osborne

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he is aware that the Canadian Government is offering a 50-year interest-free loan with a 10-year moratorium to Trinidad for the purchase of Canadian equipment; if he will give a similar loan to Trinidad in order to help British exporters; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Oram

I have seen reports of a loan at ¾ per cent. interest, mainly tied to Canadian goods. When my right hon. Friend the present Minister of Transport announced the policy of interest free loans in June, 1965, she made it clear that we cannot extend these very liberal terms to all developing countries. There s no current proposal for such a loan to Trinidad, but we are helping Trinidad in other ways, for example by the provision of interest-bearing loan money and technical assistance.