§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made by the continuing programme of development aid to rebuild Montserrat's economic infrastructure. [HL3652]
§ Baroness AmosI refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development in another place to my honourable friend the Member for Stevenage (Mrs. Follett) on 14 July 1999,Official Report, col. 220.
In addition, we have committed £2.7 million for road repairs, with associated plant and equipment costing a further £600,000. We have also improved the electricity and water supplies in the north of the island. We have funded the construction of business premises, costing £700,000, and are also supporting a project to encourage the revival of the private sector through the provision of loans, training and retail space for small enterprises. External transport links to Antigua have been maintained and a project to upgrade the heliport to basic International Civil Aviation Organisation standards is currently under way. Consultants will be appointed shortly to begin the design work required to rehabilitate WH Bramble airport. Since 1997 we have financed a number of improvements to the Little Bay Jetty to lengthen its economic life. Work will start soon on the improvement of landside facilities to enable the efficient and safe handling of Montserrat's goods trade over the next five years.
These measures are being taken forward as part of a programme of priority actions for the rebuilding of Montserrat agreed in the Montserrat Country Policy Plan by Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Montserrat.