§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Lord Privy Seal if, before granting any future aid to Malawi under the review of the aid programme, he will raise with the Government of that country abuses of human rights generally, and the wages and working conditions of tea estate workers.
§ Mr. Neil MartenAny discussions with the Malawi Government about future aid will take into account the political, commercial and economic considerations relevant at the time. Conditions and wages on tea estates are primarily a matter for the Malawi Government, but we encourage British corn-panics to be in the forefront of good employers.
Mr. McElhone asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report brief details on the smallholders' tea development in Malawi which has secured Kwacha 530,070 of British aid; and if this development is really aimed at smallholders rather than estates.
§ Mr. Neil Martensmallholder tea production in Malawi is controlled and assisted by the Smallholder Tea Authority. There are currently just under 4,000 growers cultivating 6,380 acres. Growers are limited to a maximum of 10 acres, and 90 per cent. have holdings ranging from one quarter of an acre to 1½ acres. The scheme is thus of benefit to smallholders and not to estates.
114WWe are providing expertise and about £290,000 from the 1978–81 United Kingdom/Malawi grant to the Smallholder Tea Authority for the provision of transport and the cost of roads and conservation work entirely in the smallholder areas.
§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will obtain assurances from the Government of Malawi that no local fishermen have been removed by force from the lake shore where the fisheries development project, largely funded by British aid, is taking place before any further aid is granted.
§ Mr. Neil MartenWe have not entered into discussions with the Malawi Government about any possible expansion of the fisheries development project. If we did so, the position of local fishermen would be a factor we would take into account.