§ Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what was the amount advanced from British embassies and consulates abroad in the latest convenient 12 months prior to 5th July, 1965; to what number of British subjects who were without means or destitute funds were advanced; and what amount has since been repaid;
(2) what amount has been advanced in the latest convenient 12 months since 5th July, 1965, in respect of special advances in exceptional circumstances to British subjects claiming to be destitute abroad; and how much has since been repaid.
§ Mrs. WhiteIn the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1965, advances towards repatriation costs totalling £76,950 were made by Embassies and Consulates abroad to 2,990 British subjects who were without means.
The latest 12 monthly period for which similar details are conveniently available is that ended the 31st March, 1966, the comparable figures for that year being £55,540 and 2,163 cases.
161WPrecise details of the amounts repaid so far in respect of the sums advanced in each of the two years are not readily available; many of these people are repaying by instalments.
I can tell my hon. Friend, however, that in the financial year ended the 31st March, 1965, £59,000 was recovered in respect of advances made in that, and in earlier years; the corresponding figure for the year ended the 31st March, 1966, was £50,300.