§ 33. Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware of the difficulty being caused by the continued delay in implementing the scheme for improving water supplies in North Mahe, Seychelles; and whether he will now indicate when the scheme can start.
§ Mr. KershawI am aware of the importance of this scheme. The necessary thorough examination of development projects when large expenditure of public funds is concerned inevitably takes time. I am satisfied that there has been no undue delay. Approval has already been given for expenditure of almost £1½ million, and my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to authorise further expenditure on the same scale within the next month or two.
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§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are now being taken to improve the facilities, including the provision of a new operating theatre, and to recruit additional specialist personnel at the Victoria Hospital, Seychelles.
§ Mr. KershawThe site clearance work for the construction of a new operating theatre has already been completed and work on the foundations will start next month. Other works are planned to start very soon. The Seychelles Government have confirmed that they have all the specialised staff they need at present, except for an opthalmologist whose recruitment is in hand.