§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether her Department is in negotiation with the Government of Pakistan with a view to British Shipbuilders giving merchant vessels to that country; and when these negotiations were started; and when she expects them to be concluded.
§ Mrs. HartOfficials from my Department have recently begun discussions with the Government in Pakistan about the possibility of providing aid for a number of projects, including the supply of merchant vessels. The possible supply of vessels under the aid programme has not previously been considered with the Government of Pakistan and the present talks are exploratory and without commitment.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will list in the Official Report the amount of overseas aid granted to Pakistan in 1976–77 and 1977–78; stating for what projects it was allocated in each financial year.
§ Mrs. HartDisbursements of United Kingdom bilateral aid to Pakistan in 1976–77 were £18million. Disbursements in the first nine months of 1977–78 were £12.8 million. The major projects on which disbursements were made were the supply of craft and equipment to Port Qasim, a line of credit to the Pakistan Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation, the supply of tubewells, the provision of equipment for a sugar mill at Kamalia, the supply of flood damage restoration equipment—disbursements in 1976–77 only—aid for the Tarbela dam—1976–77 only—and the supply of equipment for land levelling in Sind—1977–78 only.