§ Mr. Luardasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made for budgetary aid to Mauritius.
§ Mr. George ThomsonMy hon. Friend will recall that on 1st November [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st November, 1967, cols. 5–6), it was announced that Her Majesty's Government had agreed, subject to Parliamentary approval, to give additional financial aid for budgetary and capital purposes of £2.8 million, making a total of £4.3 million to meet the residual deficit in the Mauritius financial year 1967–68. This was conditional on fulfilment by the Government of Mauritius of an undertaking to bring their recurrent budget into balance by 1968–69 and to limit their capital budget for 1967–68 to an agreed figure.
The House will be glad to learn that, before Mauritius became independent, £750,000 of this was issued as budgetary aid. It is of course, part of the aid announced on 1st November and has been given on proof of need and taking into account the action which the Government of Mauritius have reported they are taking to bring their recurrent budget into balance by 1968–69.