§ Mr. Richardasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement regarding financial aid to Mauritius.
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§ Mr. PrenticeYes. As a result of discussions which I have had this week with a Mauritius Government delegation led by their Minister of Finance, Mr. Ringadoo, the British Government have offered the Government of Mauritius a loan of £5 million. This loan will be to provide capital aid in support of the development effort in Mauritius, and will be available for purposes and projects to be jointly agreed between the Mauritius and British Governments. The loan, which is additional to the interim loan of £1 million already offered and accepted for the current year, will become effective in April, 1970, and has no terminal date. It will be interest-free and repayable over 25 years. The Government of Mauritius have accepted this offer.