HC Deb 14 March 1988 vol 129 cc856-7
59. Mr. Holt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further relief aid for refugees is planned for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chris Patten

I have just agreed to provide £5 million, to be divided equally between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross, for their refugee programmes in Ethiopia, Sudan and Malawi.

That is in addition to the £1.25 million package of assistance I announced last month for these agencies' important programmes in Africa and Asia.

Mr. Holt

Those additional funds in the current financial year will be very much welcomed. Will my hon.

Friend assure the House that the money is being properly spent and is in no way being misused by some of the people to whom it is sent?

Mr. Patten

I can give my hon. Friend that important assurance. A sum of £2.5 million will be used by the International Committee of the Red Cross for work in Ethiopia. Another £300,000 will be used by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ethiopia, and £700,000 in Sudan, and £1.5 million will go to help Mozambican refugees in Malawi.

Forward to