HC Deb 20 October 1972 vol 843 c151W
Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the level of official aid flows to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland with special reference to future United Kingdom aid and development policy in Southern Africa.

Mr. Wood

The following amounts of aid have been made available to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland over the three years from 1970–71 to 1972–73:Botswana Development loan: £6.8 million. Budgetary grants of up to £2.675 million for 1970–71 and up to £1.7 million for 1971–72. Actual requirements for those years were £0.290 million and £1.05 million respectively. Lesotho Development grant: £3.85 million. Budgetary grants of up to £1.1 million for 1970–71, £0.85 million for 1971–72 and £0.6 million for 1972–73. Actual requirements for 1970–71 and 1971–72 were £0.05 million and £0.53 million respectively. Swaziland Development loan: £4.645 million. Development grant: £1.5 million. A contribution of £0.250 million to the General Revenue Balance on achieving budgetary independence in 1970–71. University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland Grant of £0.413 million towards development of university campuses in Botswana and Swaziland.

The three countries have also continued to benefit from the full range of British technical assistance, including OSAS, consultancies, training in Britain, volunteers, etc.

Aid discussions in respect of the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76 have just been held with the Swaziland Government. I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

Similar discussions with the Government of Lesotho will be held next month; and with the Government of Botswana in January, 1973.