Africa: Famine Relief (Hansard, 31 January 1992)

§ Lord Redesdale
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Overseas Development Administration has declined to contribute to the special famine relief programme run by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, as I told the House only three days ago on 28th January, we believe that the future activities in Africa of the International Fund for Agricultural Development should be financed in the same way as its work elsewhere.

§ Lord Redesdale
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. He spoke of the central budget for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. However, as a number of countries, including the USA, France, Belgium, Holland and Kuwait, have seen that it may be necessary to fund a special famine relief programme in Africa, could not the Government re-evaluate their position on the issue if the situation in Africa becomes any worse?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I fear that the noble Lord has not read Hansard for 28th January. He will see that I answered that precise question then. France's pledge is conditional; Germany, Japan, 1554 Norway, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland all contributed to the first phase but have said that they do not intend to contribute to the second phase.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, bearing in mind that we are probably witnessing today in the countries of the Horn of Africa the worst famine in the history of mankind, instead of being guided by other countries should this country not ensure that its own aid makes a contribution to help the suffering and the starving, particularly in the countries of the Horn of Africa?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the noble Lord knows full well from my Answers to Questions from him on this issue that the ODA and Britain are doing a very good job in Africa and are not being told what to do by other countries.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, is it not a fact that IFAD set up its special programme as a direct response to a decrease in its central budget because it did not wish those very vulnerable countries in Africa to suffer as a result of its reduced budget? Is he further aware that a development agency called SOS Sahel, of which I am president, has found IFAD an invaluable source of funding for work done with small farmers and women heads of households to help them grow more food? In the light of that and of the fact that Britain's aid programme is geared towards alleviating poverty, would it not be a good idea for the Government to rethink their position on the issue?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I also answered those questions three days ago. The important issue is the fourth replenishment of the IFAD, discussions on which will begin in April in Qatar. We have always said and we believe it is important that the financing of IFAD should be established on the right basis. We have been pressing for that for many years. It is not on the right basis at the moment, but we believe that the agency is doing very good work. We hope that the fourth replenishment will establish IFAD's financing on the right basis.