§ Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request has been received from the Government of Guyana for assistance with the supply of equipment for the Guyana Defence and Police Forces; and what reply has been sent.
§ Mr. WhitlockThe Government of Guyana have asked us whether it would be possible for Her Majesty's Government to provide assistance towards the supply of equipment for the Guyana Defence and Police Forces. After careful study of Guyana's needs, we have informed the Government of Guyana that, subject to Parliamentary approval, we would be prepared to offer them a grant of £100,000 to be spent on British equipment, mainly vehicles, of a type suitable for use by the Guyana Defence Force or by the Police when engaged in normal internal security duties. Supplementary provisions will be sought in due course. In addition, we have offered, subject to the usual aid criteria and conditions, to include in our aid programme to Guyana a loan of up to £200,000 towards the development of communications with the interior of the country.