§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister for Overseas Development what payments are being made to the Seychelles in the financial year 1976–77 in respect of special financial assistance following independence.
§ Mr. JuddAs stated in the House on 24th May—[Vol. 912, c. 170]—budgetary support of £1.7 million will be provided over the first four years of independence, and parliamentary approval of expenditure was obtained in Estimates prior to independence. Parliamentary approval to this new service following independence will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending that further approval, £450,000 was paid on 2nd July from the Contingencies Fund, and any other necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from that fund.