HC Deb 05 July 2000 vol 353 c321
7. Mr. Malcolm Bruce (Gordon)

What plans she has for setting up permanent stand-by arrangements for emergency relief. [127743]

The Secretary of State for International Development (Clare Short)

A mechanism for international emergency relief already exists under the co-ordination of the United Nations. We are supporting the strengthening of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Our strategy paper on that work is available in the Library. The emergency relief operations of my Department are widely recognised as one of the most effective in the international system. [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. Before I call Mr. Bruce, I remind hon. Members that I have asked them to cease noisy conversations. I cannot hear, neither can the Secretary of State. Will hon. Members have quiet conversations, if they have any at all? They are here to listen to questions and answers, not to have conversations among themselves.

Mr. Bruce

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but she will be aware that, during the Mozambique crisis, I contacted her office on behalf of helicopter companies in Aberdeen. Her staff gave a quick and efficient response. I have no complaints about that, but the helicopter companies said that their response could have been greater if there were stand-by arrangements between the Government and private companies, such as themselves, for emergency provision. Is there any possibility that that could be further explored so that we can get the right people, with the right equipment, in the right place and, I entirely accept, at the right price?

Clare Short

We have stand-by arrangements with health professionals, logisticians, former military people, firefighters and all sorts of people who, overnight, will drop everything to go out to an emergency. Britain should be very proud of them. It is not wise to send helicopters from northern Europe to southern Africa if they can be hired in southern Africa. That is what we did, because it was cheaper and quicker. It was the right thing to do.