§ 44. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he proposes to 679 allocate the £3 million rehabilitation grant for Ethiopia, announced on 26 November 1985, Official Report, column 515; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Timothy Raison)Some £0.9 million of the £3 million we set aside for relief and rehabilitation was used earlier this year to provide seeds and agricultural hand tools. An ODA team visited Ethiopia in May to discuss the use of the remaining £2.1 million. Following this, pesticides and spraying equipment to a value of £0.6 million were provided in June to counter an emergency pest outbreak. We shall also be providing some £1.5 million for a well rehabilitation programme and for seed production and storage.
§ Mr. ChapmanI am grateful for that answer and for the progress report. Is not the main problem the flight of so many Ethiopian refugees into Somalia and the consequent threat to the Somalian economy? Do we not have to face the problem that we must remove the fear of Ethiopians against the oppressive nature and policies of that regime? Does my right hon. Friend agree that for us to give money will not necessarily solve that particular and vitally crucial question?
§ Mr. RaisonThere are many problems about Ethiopia and the nature of the regime. In the past year we have provided £750,000, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Oxfam, specifically for refugees in Somalia. I have just allocated a further £800,000 for the same refugees.