§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons Her Majesty's Government's representative opposed the European Commission proposal on the funding of the EC's 400,000 tonnes of food aid for Africa, at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of Member States on 23 April; and if he will make it his policy to end Her Majesty's Government's opposition to the proposal in order to secure a COREPER decision on funding at its meeting on 2 May.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe endorsed during last week's discussions in COREPER the proposal of the EC Commission to make available an extra 400,000 tonnes of EC food aid for the relief of famine in Africa. We proposed that the food aid should be sent to Africa this week and the funding sorted out later. I wrote to Commissioner Marin earlier this week making the same point. I hope that agreement can be reached at COREPER today.