HC Deb 14 April 1999 vol 329 cc209-10
2. Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)

What plans she has to provide bilateral aid to Cuba; and if she will make a statement. [79105]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. George Foulkes)

We provide limited direct assistance to Cuba through our small grants scheme administered by the British embassy in Havana. We also contribute help to Cuba through the European Commission Humanitarian Office, and the Commonwealth Development Corporation has been operating there since 1995.

Mr. Fabricant

The Minister knows that I am not the man to support Castro and his regime, but considerable damage was done by Hurricanes Mitch and George to Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo provinces. Does he agree that the people of Cuba should not suffer because of their Government? Can he take further steps, as the United States is doing, to ensure that the people of Cuba get aid—especially the medical community, which is unable even to obtain drugs and textbooks because of currency problems?

Mr. Foulkes

We are concerned to help poor people in any country, irrespective of their Government. When opportunities have arisen, we have expressed our concern about human rights in Cuba, as we have for other countries. We are providing substantial help to Cuba. In 1997, nearly £2 million was provided through the European Community programme. We are keen for the CDC to get more active in Cuba. There are ways in which we can help without necessarily having a bilateral programme. I hope that the hon. Gentleman agrees that that is a substantial contribution.

Dr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde)

While I have every sympathy and respect for the Cuban people, there have been allegations of abuses of human rights. The Pope himself voiced such concerns when he visited Cuba. Is there not a working party of ambassadors examining such problems? What is it doing about those serious allegations?

Mr. Foulkes

That point is more a matter for my colleagues in the Foreign Office, but we, too, are concerned about human rights. The Cubans have recently become an observer in Lomé with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. If it wishes to become a full member, it will have to take account of our representations and those of other countries on human rights.

Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)

Would it not be ironic if the Government, who are trying—however ineffectively—to bring down a former communist dictator in Serbia were to prop up a current communist dictator in Cuba through aid supplied by the Department for International Development?

Mr. Foulkes

As I said earlier, we are concerned about poor people who are suffering, whether under Slobodan Milosevic or in any other circumstance. We are bringing help to them. The comparison made by the hon. Gentleman is, if not odious, certainly not apt.