§ 5. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps are being taken 3 by Her Majesty's Government to try to bring relief supplies to Biafra.
§ 43. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to bring food and medical supplies to Biafrans.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Michael Stewart)The Questions relate to the East Central State of the Federation of Nigeria.
We have now sent to Nigeria a total of 50 Land Rovers (15 given by BEWAC Ltd.), 102 4-ton trucks, 44½ tons of drugs and medical equipment, 29 tons of vehicles spares and 642 tents and marquees.
The Government have decided to give, from the £5 million extra provision announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 19th January, £250,000 to the League of Red Cross Societies (for the Nigerian Red Cross), £250,000 to U.N.I.C.E.F. for the special U.N.I.C.E.F. relief and rehabilitation programme in Nigeria, and £150,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross, towards the cost of their Nigerian relief activities. Supplementary Estimates will be presented in due course and, in the meantime, advances will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund if necessary.
§ Mr. WinnickIs my right hon. Friend now satisfied that those most desperately in need in the former Biafran-held areas are being helped and fed? Secondly, do the Nigerian Government recognise and accept that the concern which we have expressed in the House of Commons in no way denies their independence but is an expression of our humanitarian concern about people who are desperately in need after the civil war?
§ Mr. StewartI hope it is fully understood that no one in this House questions the sovereignty and independence of Nigeria and that the responsibility for the administration of relief is theirs. What I have to answer for in this House is the extent to which I can give expression to the good will of people in this country who want to give help. All our information is that although difficulties 4 remain, particularly in certain areas, we have been able to give substantial help and the Nigerian Government are making good use of it.
§ Mr. AllaunWill my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance or some satisfaction that the available food stocks are reaching all the parts of the former enclave, since apparently, 16 days after the fighting has stopped, only one truck load had got through to Orlu?
§ Mr. StewartI can only repeat what I have just said. All our evidence is that the Nigerian Government are doing their best in an extremely difficult situation following the end of the war to get relief through.
§ Mr. TilneyIs it not time that everyone gave up using the word Biafra, which never properly existed except as part of the sea?
§ Mr. StewartI hope that that advice will be generally accepted. The continued use of words and phrases that stir up memories of this bitter conflict can do nothing but harm.
§ 44. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now help Joint Church and Commonwealth Aid to increase its supply of food to Biafra by providing it with additional transport aeroplanes and with finance to cover the cost of additional flights.
§ Mr. M. StewartNo, Sir. The situation in Nigeria has changed with the end of the fighting and of the Joint Church Aid flights.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes the Foreign Secretary know what is happening to the 15,000 tons of food at São Tome?
§ Mr. StewartI understand that arrangements are being made for its transport to where it will be needed.