§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums of money are still owed to British subjects by the Government of Tanzania as compensation for their property taken over by the Tanzanian Government; what is the average time that these sums have been owed; how much financial aid Her Majesty's Government have offered Tanzania in the last 10 years; how much of that aid has been used by Tanzania to repay its debts to British subjects whose property it has taken; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RowlandsOur best estimate of outstanding claims notified to us in £5.5 million. The claims have been outstanding for between five and 11 years.
Tanzania has been offered £35 million in project aid and £13 million in programme aid since 1974 when Britain resumed aid to Tanzania.
No aid has been used by the Tanzanian Government to make repayments after the expropriation of British property. British aid has, however, been used to purchase the property of British subjects, on a willing seller/willing buyer basis for developmental purposes.
§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to improve co-ordination between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Overseas Development with a view to 82W ending the unfairness caused to the late Mr. J. Davies of Upton St. Leonards by the failure of the Tanzanian Government to pay its admitted debts to him.
§ Mr. RowlandsThere is full co-ordination between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Overseas Development on matters of joint interest I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 9th February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development.—[Vol. 943. c.644.] We continue to urge the Government of Tanzania to settle the remaining claims speedily and equitably.