§ 51. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the Hunt Mission on the numbers dead, receiving hospital treatment, not receiving assistance, and the numbers dying each week from famine and the spread of disease in Nigeria and Biafra.
§ Mr. Michael StewartLord Hunt and his colleagues visited Nigeria in July. Their report, published as Cmnd. 3727, gave estimates at that time of about one million people in real need in the Federal areas, and at least half-a-million refugees in camps on the other side with many more outside them. They completed their task of advising Her Majesty's Government on relief expenditure some time ago and are not in a position to give the further and up-to-date information for which my hon. Friend is asking.
§ 52. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voluntary organisations are working on relief work in Nigeria and Biafra with the support or assistance of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. Michael StewartOur contribution to relief operations in Nigeria is being made under the auspices of the International Red Cross which coordinates the work of the voluntary agencies. In accordance with the Hunt report, Her Majesty's Government are giving direct financial assistance towards the cost of four medical teams and a transport maintenance unit provided by the Save the Children Fund.
§ Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much damage has been done to British-owned property due to the Nigerian civil war.
§ Mr. Michael StewartConsiderable damage has been done to British-owned property, but until the civil war ends it will not be possible to make an accurate estimate of its extent.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 189W if he will make a statement on the progress of relief work for the civilian population involved in the Nigerian civil war.
§ Mr. Michael StewartResponsibility for relief work in Nigeria lies mainly with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. The distribution of relief supplies has been difficult and frustrating, particularly in the Ibo areas, but the relief effort has now gathered considerable momentum. The contribution made by Her Majesty's Government and by British voluntary societies has been used to good effect. According to a recent report of the International Committee a total of 1,250,000 refugees, including half a million children, received food supplies in September and October.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for making effective a stoppage of the supply of arms to Nigeria, in view of the movement towards a final military solution by the Nigerians; and when he proposes to put forward such proposals.
§ Mr. Michael StewartI would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley on the 22nd October. There is no change in our policy on the supply of arms.—[Vol. 770, c.237–44.]