§ 31. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's emergency disaster relief work. [27698]
§ Mr. HanleySince 1 April, the ODA has responded to new emergencies in Bolivia, Chad, Ecuador, Georgia, Lebanon and Mongolia, with grants totalling £844,000. It has also continued funding action in more than 20 other long-term situations.
§ Mr. ArnoldIs it not the case that the United Kingdom has achieved an enviable reputation for flexibility, speed and effectiveness in the overseas aid that it provides to emergency disaster relief?
§ Mr. HanleyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Our response to emergencies is highly regarded, but we cannot do everything. So it is important that we concentrate on what we can do best: supporting the excellent British specialist non-governmental organisations, running a limited number of direct operations and acting swiftly through our diplomatic posts, as we have in the past month in Bolivia, Lebanon and Mongolia. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Our emergency response is excellent.