HC Deb 19 March 1981 vol 1 c158W
55. Mr. Michael Shaw

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the reasons for the current European Economic Community food assistance to Poland.

Sir Ian Gilmour

In the light of Poland's present economic and social difficulties, the European Council on 1–2 December statedtheir willingness to meet, so far as their resources allow, the requests for economic aid being made to them by Poland".

The Polish Government had made known to the Community their urgent need for food and agricultural products and the Foreign Affairs Council accordingly agreed on 16 December to make available to Poland at special prices the products listed in my statement of 17 December. There have subsequently been minor adjustments to that list.