§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will provide immediate financial relief to people dying of starvation and disease in northern Uganda ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe Government have in the past two to three months spent over £100,000 assisting United Nations agencies to provide food supplies and medical services for northern Uganda. We have recently agreed to meet the costs, estimated at £12,000, of air transport to Kampala for some £85,000 worth of food and medical supplies collected by "Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas" for distribution in northern Uganda under their auspices. We are now investigating as a matter of urgency whether and in what form Her Majesty's Government can, subject to the approval of Parliament, contribute further to the international relief effort and I will announce a decision as soon as possible. There are formidable problems affecting the distribution of relief supplies in the remoter parts of the country and we will have to be sure that any contribution can be made effective.