Natural Disasters: Emergency Relief (Hansard, 24 October 1988)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)
My Lords, we believe that current international arrangements for providing emergency assistance for natural disasters are working well.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in various parts of the world, where tragedies have occurred in the past year, millions of men, 1359 women and children have died, and therefore they will not be able to protest at the Answer given this afternoon? Does not the noble Lord agree that it would be worthwhile for Britain, which has been very generous, to initiate a scheme whereby speed is of the essence in the saving of lives when these natural disasters occur?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, of course the many tragedies that we have seen are truly terrible. However, the fact is that a standing task force such as that proposed by the noble Lord would almost certainly be expensive to maintain, and it would not increase available resources for emergencies.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is it not the case that the Government's performance in this regard is less than good? In 1979 the United Kingdom's contributions to the third world, including contributions to disasters, was 0.52 per cent. of GDP. That was regarded as reasonably generous, and at that time we were one of the top contributors. Last year however the figure was 0.28 per cent. Given that Ministers opposite constantly draw attention to the strength of the economy, and that we are exhorted by the Prime Minister to observe moral standards, cannot the Government do rather better than that?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, the noble Lord should not confuse two items. The Question relates to disaster relief. We respond quickly and generously, as the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, was kind enough to say, to appeals for assistance in tackling natural disasters. So far this year our emergency food aid, disaster and refugee relief totalled almost £80 million, including about £17 million for emergency disaster relief. As regards the more general point raised by the noble Lord about the target figure for aid, the net aid programme is planned to increase in real terms in the early 1990s. Furthermore, Great Britain has consistently exceeded the target of 1 per cent. of GNP for the combined amount of official and private contributions to development assistance.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, the noble Lord says that the Government have been generous in these matters. However, is it not the case that yesterday they decided to send only £10,000 to help those who suffered in the storm in Nicaragua? Can they not do better than that? I return to the exhortation to observe moral standards. If the economy is strong, why do the Government not help these people who are so unfortunate?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, the fact is that the Government are generous. It is also a fact that the £10,000 is an initial figure; it is the maximum cash response that we make without knowledge of precise local needs. We do not yet have the full details of what is required. That figure has been applied in other cases and it has been followed up with very generous aid.

§ Baroness Macleod of Borve
My Lords, further to the Question put by the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, will the Government initiate throughout the world a task force based on the United Nations as a result of which perhaps more countries will liaise and be able 1360 to send the right things to the right place at the right time?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, my noble friend may be aware that there is already an organisation called the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator, which was set up in response to a British initiative. It plays a vital role in mobilising and coordinating relief for natural disasters, including floods. I think that that meets the point made by my noble friend.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, can the Minister give an assurance that, in line with the recommendations from the Foreign Affairs Committee in another place and from Oxfam, the funds that the Government will give for emergency relief will be new money and will not be subtracted from the overseas development aid that we are at present giving?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, we look at every case on its merits. We respond generously, as has been said, to aid requirements to meet disaster relief and we shall continue to do so.

§ Lord Simon of Glaisdale
My Lords, is it appropriate to speak of the Government as being either mean or generous? Have the Government any money of their own?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, of course it is taxpayers' money but in these cases we strive to make the best use of the money to meet the case in point.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, I am sorry to press my point but the Minister did not answer it. Will the money given be new money or will it be subtracted from funds that we already provide for the overseas development budget?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, in some cases I suspect that it will be new money, but in the end there is the total aid budget to be looked at.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, if as the Minister said United Nations emergency action and responses to deal with these tragedies are adequate, can he briefly outline what they are?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, one of the difficulties is that the requirement for international assistance for natural disasters is sporadic. It is usually for emergency supplies and financial help rather than for international activity on the spot. The noble Lord is trying to set up some kind of task force. We fear that it would not add to what has already been put in hand on numerous different occasions, which has been demonstrated to work well.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, it has never been really tested. All I am asking, as have other Members on all sides of the House, is whether the Government will consider the proposition to see whether it can be accepted in the United Nations. Such an arrangement should save the lives of literally millions of men, women and children caught by these disasters. Speed is of the absolute essence for any aid that is forthcoming.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, an organisation already exists within the United Nations machinery. In answer to my noble friend Lady Macleod of Borve I referred to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator. That office is working well and it was set up as a result of a British initiative some time ago.

The Earl of Halsbury
My Lords, taking one thing with another, and the present Question with the last, perhaps I may ask the noble Lord whether, by the time I have applied my tax cuts to the relief of the Sudan, the Bangladeshi floods and Jamaica, it is not time that the taxes were restored.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I shall certainly not attempt to answer either the second main Question or the last supplementary question. We have given this subject a fairly thorough airing.