Former Soviet Union: Assistance (Hansard, 6 March 1992)

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, the know-how fund for central and eastern Europe and the Soviet Union is going well. We have so far committed some £55 million to over 400 projects. Other western governments are using our know-how fund as a model for their own. Our humanitarian aid is also much appreciated. We are helping to meet the 1105 immediate needs for food, medicines and animal feed for the former Soviet Union. We are also providing emergency assistance to Albania and Yugoslavia.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. However, can he say a little more about the criteria that he used in deciding how assistance should be given? Further, how is the balance being made between sharing skills and technological knowledge on the one hand and assistance in kind on the other which, if not sensitively handled, can smother local initiative and production? Can the Minister also tell the House what is happening about Albania which does not have as much political significance as some of the other countries but whose situation is desperate in human terms?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, the know-how fund budget has more than trebled since 1990. Indeed, as I said, for 1992–93 it is £50 million. Britain has committed about £80 million for technical assistance to meet immediate needs for humanitarian assistance in the former Soviet Union. There is £50 million for the know-how fund and £20 million for feed grain for St. Petersburg, £8 million for the Chancellor's financial sector training initiative and £2 million for emergency medical assistance. But the main effort is with our partners through the EC. Britain is contributing £300 million towards the European Community's £1.57 billion programme of food aid credit and food aid grants.
The noble Lord raised the question of Albania. As part of the initial European Community effort, Britain contributed £2.2 million worth of medical aid and wheat to Albania. We are also supporting initiatives to the British NGOs and relief agencies in Albania. So far a total of £180,000 has been given to Feed The Children, £200,000 to the British Red Cross and £35,000 to Oxfam.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the need for this humanitarian assistance exists right now? If reports, which indicate that the allocation and distribution of European Community aid is subject to chronic delays, are true, can he say what progress is being made in that respect and also what the Government are doing to help co-ordinate and implement the aid?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I acknowledge that there have been delays. I believe that the noble Baroness is possibly referring to the delay regarding beef. It was stored for longer than we would have wished. In fact, I think that it is more a question of misunderstanding with the European Community over labelling. Such problems have been resolved.

§ Lord Auckland
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that parliamentary delegations have recently visited the Baltic states? If that is so, can he say whether such matters have been discussed there? Further, in view of Finland's possible accession to the 1106 European Community in the reasonably near future, can my noble friend say what aid will be going to Estonia which is very near the Finnish border?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I am sorry to have to tell my noble friend that I would need notice of such a question. However, I shall endeavour to find out the information and write to him.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, in view of Britain's very generous contribution—as evidenced by the figures the Minister has just given to the House—which makes us all feel good, have we therefore not a right to ensure that, within the United Nations and the EC, distribution is dealt with efficiently and that the contribution we are making is not wasted?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we are contributing a six-man team to the EC task force to ensure that the aid distribution is properly monitored.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, does not the Minister agree that the greatest humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Nagorno Karabakh? Can he say what action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government through the European Community or through the United Nations to try to bring peace to an area where thousands of people are suffering and dying?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition raises a very germane point. The tragedy in Nagorno Karabakh beggars description. I have had a first-hand account of the situation from my noble friend Lady Cox who, I believe, may well be in the region now. I am sure that the House would wish me to pay tribute to her incredible personal courage in what she has done. Britain makes a significant contribution to the EC budget for emergency food aid for which Armenia and Azerbaijan are both eligible.
The Commission has just announced a £250,000 emergency aid package for Nagorno Karabakh. Britain also contributes towards the excellent work of the International Red Cross which has just been allowed to become involved in the region. However, I do not under-estimate the desperate problems of the region.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I should like to endorse and support the remarks he made about the noble Baroness, Lady Cox.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, I hope that the Minister will realise that he will receive a great deal of support from all sides of the House when responding to the needs of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, but will he take this opportunity to assure us that everything that is being done is additional and is in no way at the expense of our response to the even greater needs of the third world in terms of both financial and other resources, and the intellectual and administrative input into the work that is being carried out?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Judd. I was also grateful yesterday to hear him acknowledge the work of my right honourable friend Mrs. Chalker. Perhaps I may 1107 take this opportunity to confirm that the aid to Central and Eastern Europe and to the former Soviet Union is separate from and additional to the aid to the developing countries.