HC Deb 11 June 1979 vol 968 cc19-20W
Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the amount of Government aid that has been given to Cyprus since the Turkish invasion in July 1974.

Mr. Neil Marten

After the events of 1974, Her Majesty's Government provided over £2 million for relief and rehabilitation, most of which was channelled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A further £500,000 was provided towards the end of 1978, again through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for social welfare projects in the north and south of the island.

We provide technical co-operation funds of approximately £300,000 a year, mostly for training and education, which benefit both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. We have also offered, and the Cyprus Government have accepted, a £7.5 million capital aid loan which we expect to be used for projects of benefit to the island as a whole. In addition, an EEC financial protocol with Cyprus, which entered into force on 1 January 1979, provides for assistance totalling 30 million units of account, that is approximately £20 million.