§ 10. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will make a statement on British aid to Tunisia following the recent flood disaster.
§ Mrs. HartTunisia's economy has been severely disrupted by the unprecedented floods. Her Majesty's Government have already made an immediate gift of £10,000 for the first aid relief, and my Department is now urgently considering what further help of rehabilitation can be given. We hope to provide some immediately needed reconstruction equipment and also assistance for a radio-telephone link in central Tunisia.
§ Mr. JuddDoes my right hon. Friend agree, as she has perhaps suggested in her reply, that the most significant aspect 593 of the flooding disaster in Tunisia is its impact on the long-term development of the country, and does she understand that she will have every possible support for a sympathetic response from this country?
§ Mrs. HartI am grateful for what my hon. Friend says. I realise this, and it is in this direction that we would hope to make our further contribution.
§ Mr. BrewisDoes the right hon. Lady think that £10,000 is adequate, in view of the magnitude of the disaster—things like radio-telephones will not help very much?
§ Mrs. HartI am sorry if the hon. Gentleman misunderstood my answer. I did not say that £10,000 was what we would give. I said that £10,000 was our immediate response for first aid relief. I am now considering what further help we can give and it is likely that this will be quite considerable.