§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a progress report on the British relief programme to drought-stricken areas of Africa.
§ Mr. WoodBritish relief to the West African countries which were affected by 267W drought consisted of a contribution of £300,000 to the Food and Agriculture Organisation's special Sahelian Zone Trust Fund and our share of the cost of emergency food aid sent to the afflicted areas by the European Economic Community and the World Food Programme. In addition, the Royal Air Force transported about 2,500 tons of food from Dakar to the north-western part of Mali. I was myself able to see something of the problems Mali is facing during a recent visit there.
Her Majesty's Government are willing to take part in an international programme of medium- and long-term assistance to the area and attach great importance to its effective co-ordination. The resources available within the British aid programme for bilateral aid to Sahelian countries, however, will continue to be small in view of our commitments elsewhere in the world.
With regard to our relief aid to Ethiopia, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to him on Friday 2nd November.—[Vol. 863, c. 17–18.]