§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid the Government have provided to Romania since the overthrow of President Ceaucescu; and what financial aid the Government will supply to Romania over the next two months.
§ Mr. SainsburyNone.
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§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the aid provided to Romania by the International Red Cross since the overthrow of President Ceaucescu.
§ Mr. SainsburyAfter the overthrow of the Ceaucescu regime the International Red Cross provided approximately 9,000 tonnes of relief goods, (food, clothing and medical supplies) with an estimated value of over £10 million. This assistance was provided by 29 different national Red Cross societies. The United Kingdom contribution being approximately £300,000. The IRC is now developing programmes of assistance to targeted groups including rural dispensaries, orphanages, homes for the elderly and homes for the handicapped.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what medical supplies, food, clothing and other non-financial aid the United Kingdom Government have provided to Romania since the overthrow of President Ceaucescu; and what medical supplies, food, clothing and other non-financial aid the Government will supply to Romania over the next two months.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe donated a consignment of 1.8 tonnes of medical supplies on 24 December and several items of medical equipment since then, including 1 million disposable syringes worth £40,000. Five victims of the December fighting are in the United Kingdom for major surgery, at a cost yet to be determined. A further £53,000 has been made available to finance a project by Marie Stopes International to improve birth control services in Romania. We are contributing about £5.8 million to the food aid and medical supplies packages sent, or so far agreed, by the EC. Further funds, as yet to be determined, will be made available over the next two months for medical supplies.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to co-ordinate the efforts of voluntary agencies, individuals and others involved in providing aid to Romania since the overthrow of President Ceaucescu.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe have received many offers of help for Romania from individuals and organisations and have taken them into account in providing official relief assistance. We are also in close touch with the British Red Cross, which is co-ordinating many private offers of help.