§ Mr. Terry Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek reforms of the European Economic Community food aid procedures.
§ Mr. RaisonWe have been urging reform for some time and much progress has been made. The European Council approved a food aid management regulation in December 1982 which we have used to press for earlier decisions in the Council on total quantities to be made 197W available. We hope agreement will be reached this month on the 1985 programme, whereas the 1984 programme was only settled in May this year. The normal procedures for purchase and shipment of food aid after allocations have been agreed are complex, but there are more rapid emergency procedures, the use of which we have strongly supported in appropriate cases.