§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances military personnel are used to distribute food to the civil population during disasters or emergencies.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonUnder the military aid to the community scheme, the use of military personnel to distribute food to the civil population during a disaster or civil emergency would be considered where there is a danger to life and no alternative means of food distribution are available. An example might be the use of service helicopters to reach a community cut off by flooding or a heavy snowfall.