§ 3.15 p.m.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the forthcoming cessation of supplies to Nigeria and Biafra by the Red Cross, due to transport difficulties, they will now make available a suitable number of R.A.F. Andover aircraft to fill the gap.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Churches Committee have been sending supplies into Biafra from Fernando Po and Sao Tome respectively at a rate of 2,000 tons or more a month each. The International Red Cross has not asked us for additional aircraft for the airlift into Biafra. In general I understand that the International Committee 1302 have enough supplies: their need is for funds to finance the heavy cost of transport and distribution, and this was one reason why we wished to see the opening of land corridors of mercy, which would be a more efficient and a cheaper way of getting supplies into the rebel area. But, my Lords, as you know, Colonel Ojukwu has consistently refused this method of relief supplies.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Would not one method of financing the transport of the supplies, which is apparently presenting a difficulty to the mercy organisations, be the supply by Her Majesty's Government of the aircraft mentioned in the Question?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, even if you use Service aircraft there is still a cost account in it and this clearly has to be borne in mind.
§ LORD TREFGARNEMy Lords, I accept that point, but may I ask whether it is not the case that the cost to Her Majesty's Government of supplying Andover aircraft is largely made up of fixed costs which the Government have to meet anyway? Can they not therefore merely contribute the variable costs, or ask for a contribution to the variable costs only from these mercy organisations?
§ LORD SHEPHERDNo, my Lords; I would not accept that. Clearly, Service aircraft have a standing cost, but there are also the running charges if the aircraft are being used. The essence of this problem in Biafra is opening these land corridors so that vehicles can be used efficiently and cheaply. I think it must be a matter of concern to all those who are most willingly giving contributions to the relief organisation that so much is being spent in the cost of operation by air and perhaps relatively so little in terms of food.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me what is going to happen in two or three weeks' time when the relief organisations tell us that they can no longer afford any more transport?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, as my noble friend knows—or at least I hope she knows—a big campaign has been launched by the National Disasters Emergency Committee in this country and 1303 other organisations throughout the world, to raise money to help the International Committee, and the British Government, with other Governments, are being approached by that body. We shall be giving very careful and very sympathetic attention to that appeal when it arrives.
§ BARONESS HYLTON-FOSTERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in other countries it is often the usual practice for the Government to help the Red Cross in this way by providing transport?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I was answering a question on grounds of cost. I have not said that the British Government would not supply Service aircraft if both sides agreed to it and the circumstances were acceptable to us. This always has been our policy. It is not a rejection of the use of Service aircraft; it is the circumstances which now exist, and these we have to take into account.