HC Deb 14 March 1983 vol 39 c26W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what principal items of equipment urgently requested for civil reconstruction by the Falklands Islands Government had not arrived by 21 February.

Mr. Raison

Requests for equipment for rehabilitation continue to be received from the Falkland Islands.

The following items were requested urgently, and had not reached Port Stanley by 21 February, but have now arrived:

Arrival date, Port Stanley
2 excavators 5 March
2 angledozers 5 March
2 loaders 5 March
1 stone crusher 5 March
3 cement mixers scheduled to arrive 14 March

Other priority items, which were also not available off-the-shelf in the United Kingdom, include a fuel bowzer, due to arrive at the end of April, and a minibus, tippers, a hearse and a mourners' carriage, for which delivery dates are not yet firm.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total value of equipment for civil reconstruction purposes which had actually arrived in the Falkland Islands by 21 February.

Mr. Raison

The £15 million allocated for civil rehabilitation has been earmarked for projects to provide new housing and to repair roads, and for the supply of an assortment of equipment, goods and materials to meet other needs. The non-project items will cost about £3.5 million—excluding cif charges. Items worth about £2 million had arrived in the islands by 21 February.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the fourth electricity generator expected to arrive soon in the Falkland Islands will make total generating capacity in the islands sufficient for all reasonable needs over the next 18 months.

Mr. Raison

The firm installed capacity at Stanley B power station, including the newly arrived 320 KVA capacity generator, will meet civilian needs, only, up to December 1983. Estimated power requirement thereafter and the capacity necessary to meet them will be the subject of a study to be undertaken shortly.