HC Deb 21 March 1977 vol 928 cc370-1W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps have been taken to ascertain the extent to which British hydrographic aid is needed to facilitate trade with developing countries; and from which countries such aid has been sought in the past few months.

Mr. Tomlinson

£500,000 will be available in 1977–78 from the British aid programme towards the costs of the Royal Navy survey fleet, so that it can undertake marine surveys requested by developing countries. Following inquiries by British Government representatives overseas, requests for aid and enquiries have so far been received from Bangladesh, the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Ghana, Guyana, Malta, Montserrat, the New Hebrides, Oman, the Philippines, St. Helena, St. Lucia, Thailand, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Tuvalu.