HKG 025/1
19
See below. pia.
'nf.
Mr Stapley
Parliamentary Unit
PQ: THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
Mr Bruce Grocott MP (Labour Lichfield and Tamworth) has put
down a Written Question for answer on 24 June, asking for the estimated annual cost of administering the remaining dependent
territories of the Commonwealth.
2. Mr Grocott has occasionally asked Questions in the past about Flag A dependent territories generally. I attach an extract from Hansard
Flag B
for 21 December last containing Mr Rowlands' reply to a Question by Mr Grocott on prospects for independence of the remaining dependent territories. Mr Grocott also asked a number of Questions on 16 February this year about the case of Miss Mary Tyler's arrest in India.
3.
Mr Grocott's present Question is not cast in precise terms. I am assuming that by "cost" he means the cost to HMG of administering the dependent territories and that by "administering" he is not including the cost of aid or defence. Similarly, I assume that his question relates only to UK dependent territories.
4. The 1973 PAR study on "The Future of the Dependent Territories" made detailed calculations of all the costs for HMG arising from the dependent territories. The figures produced were given to the The CPRS last year, after being adjusted to current price levels. figure given to the CPRS for HMG's expenditure on administration was £3.32 millions annually. I think that this figure, which is the best available, is sufficiently realistic to be used in reply to Mr Grocott's Question.
5. I submit a draft reply.
23 June 1977
narrow definition
B. Stud Steel
JA B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Dept
li.e. excluding aid: to include hint
I think 17' Stuart is right in
This is a would create mayor complications)
proposing it and I mere afer with me duft answer 2. After action hire papers should be
is he start of something beaving on
question
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run by PPD, in case M' Grocott's
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CPRS Revier Ulkuly 2416
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