HL Deb 30 March 1981 vol 419 c106WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take the initiative to secure financial and technical aid from the EEC and the United Nations to enable the distribution of the surpluses of maize in Zimbabwe to the neighbouring countries of Zambia and Tanzania, which are in danger of famine.

Lord Trefgarne

We have raised the matter within the Community, and the Commission will consider the possibility of buying maize in Zimbabwe in response to the needs of other African countries under the 1981 food aid programme. We ourselves mean to buy 7,000 tonnes of maize in Zimbabwe as food aid for Zambia under our bilateral share of the Community's programme.

We understand that the World Food Programme of the United Nations and other international agencies are also in touch with the Government of Zimbabwe about possible uses for its maize surpluses.