§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual amount spent by the Government in Ocean Island; how much the Government receives from phosphate in Ocean Island annually; and by when the phosphate is expected to be exhausted.
§ Mr. WhitlockThe Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony incurred expenditure on Ocean Island during 1968 of £34,850; estimated expenditure for 1969 is £44,937.
A table setting out the annual revenue payments made by the British Phosphate Commissioners to the Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from the sale of Ocean Island phosphate during the years 1958–1968 was contained in the reply I gave on the 19th December 1968, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).
The phosphate deposits on Ocean Island are expected to be exhausted in about 8–10 years according to circumstances.—[Vol. 775, c. 449.]