§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the EEC and the United Nations Organisation on the establishment of an international disaster fund to provide aid quickly to areas of disaster, drought and famine.
§ Mr. AmeryNone. Her Majesty's Government and other major donors have always opposed the setting up of an international disaster relief fund, preferring instead to respondad hoc once the scale of a particular disaster and the exact needs arising are known. This procedure has not in the past prevented us from taking urgent action where such action was required.