§ 34. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on British aid to Bangladesh.
§ Mr. WoodWe have now promised £9 million for relief in Bangladesh and have committed about half of it. We are providing a wide range of items to restore communications, and are employing a Singapore firm to remove the damaged spans of the Hardinge and King George VI railway bridges. The firm will also survey some of the sunken vessels which are obstructing navigation in the rivers, so that they can be salvaged.
189WApart from this relief, we have signed loan agreements for £4.8 million in order to assist economic development in Bangladesh.