§ Mr. Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the work which has been financed from the grant of £80,000 for the economic development of Rabi Island; and what technical assistance has been offered.
§ Mr. George Thomas:In August, 1967, a Mission consisting of Professor J. L. Jay, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sussex and Mr. A. R. G. Prosser, Adviser on Social Development for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Oversea Development visited the Island of Rabi to examine its economic potential and to recommend how best its resources can be developed.
The Mission's report is now being printed and arrangements have been made for a copy to be placed in the Library as soon as it is ready.
The offer to the Banabans by Her Majesty's Government of a grant of £80,000 (not £800,000) formed part of the arrangements set out in the Agreed Minute which was adopted on 6th May, 1967, between my Department and Banaban representatives. A copy of that Agreed Minute was placed in the Library at the time.—[Vol. 747, c. 230.] When, however, the Banaban representatives returned to Rabi, the Banaban Community decided not to approve the arrangements which were recorded in that Agreed Minute. Accordingly no basis exists at present on which payment of the proposed grant could be made.