HL Deb 05 July 1991 vol 530 cc1183-5

11.15 a.m.

Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will raise with other governments at the forthcoming G7 meeting the institution of a United Nations rapid reaction force for use in natural disasters and other emergencies, to which they would be contributors, and whether they will consider the implications for this in the context of Options for Change.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, at the European Council on 29th June our European partners endorsed Anglo-German proposals for improving and supporting the United Nations' response to humanitarian emergencies. Strengthening the United Nations is at the top of the international agenda and will be discussed at many international meetings including the forthcoming G7 meeting.

Lord Elton

My Lords, I thank my noble friend warmly for that welcome Answer to the first part of my Question. May I ask him to address the second part of my Question? In so doing can he assure the House that the Options for Change review will enable Her Majesty's forces to respond quickly and significantly to natural and other disasters on an international scale without unacceptably reducing our defensive capabilities?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, under Options for Change we are considering the shape of our military forces for defence needs. However, British military forces will continue to be available to provide disaster relief assistance, if appropriate, as they have done with great success in the past.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, is the forthcoming G7 meeting considering the question of debt in the third world? Is that problem relevant to disaster relief, as I believe it is? Can the Minister also say whether the General Assembly of the United Nations will be discussing the matter in September and, if so, what position the Government will then take?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, as regards disaster relief, debt must be taken into account indirectly. The United Nations is taking action. The exodus of the Kurdish refugees from Northern Iraq demonstrated the need to improve and support the way in which the United Nations responds to humanitarian emergencies. The Anglo-German initiative launched by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the German Foreign Minister, Herr Genscher, on 9th June made four different points. They included the appointment of a senior figure reporting directly to the United Nations Secretary General in New York. The reason is that it is better for a leading figure—a chief executive, so to speak—to be near where the political decisions are made rather than close to the relief agencies. Time does not allow me to go into all the points, but I shall be pleased to write to the noble Lord.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, does not my noble friend regard the proposed use of the rapid reaction force as merely an extension of the work that the RAF search and rescue services are now carrying out in this country? For instance, recently those services saved a party of children lost in the Cairngorms. Will my noble friend commend the RAF on its excellent work? Does he regard it as comparatively simple and sensible to elevate this work to the international level?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I thank my noble friend and I take this opportunity to commend the work of our emergency forces and the RAF. There needs to be increased co-ordination on an international basis and we are asking the United Nations to look at that aspect.

Lord Elton

My Lords, while I do not expect my noble friend to answer off the cuff, can he assure the House in general terms that the issue will be pursued in NATO, as it is being pursued in Options for Change, on the bottom end of the scale and at the United Nations at the top end of the scale? What we have seen of the deployment of British forces for disaster relief has been enormously encouraging and has demonstrated the possibilities. We now need greater organisation and a swifter response on an international scale.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I cannot give a full answer as regards NATO. We take the view that there is always a role for the military because of its immediate response. It is the follow-up thereafter which needs more co-ordination and a better framework. I hope that that goes some way towards answering my noble friend.