§ Mr. Forresterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what role his Department is playing within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 23 January by Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
§ Mr. ShoreThe Property Services Agency within my Department will provide, under the terms of a subsidiary agreement signed on 26 March 1979, comprehensive project management advisory services to the appropriate agency of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in relation to the construction of public buildings mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade in his reply on 26 January to a question from the hon. member for Ipswich (Mr. Weetch)—[Vol. 961, c. 261–2.] In addition, further proposals are now under discussion with the Trinidad and Tobago authorities for my Depart-442W ment to provide similar services in connection with their housing development programme. These will be the subject of a further subsidiary agreement to be negotiated.
All costs incurred by my Department in providing these various services will be reimbursed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago or their agencies. In support of its activities under the subsidiary agreements, my Department will be seeking assistance from British consultants with experience relevant to the needs of Trinidad and Tobago, and the agreements are expected to provide further opportunities for British contractors.
Her Majesty's Government welcome the opportunity to co-operate in this way with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the execution of their development programme, and I hope that this arrangement may be the forerunner of similar agreements with other friendly Governments and their agencies.
Any expenditure incurred prior to recovery from foreign Governments or Governmental agencies will be met from the Votes of my Department.