§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Overseas Development what help is being given this year to Ethiopia by the United Kingdom Government to assist in the internal distribution of food.
§ Mrs. HartA large part of my new allocation of £500,000 for relief aid to Ethiopia is devoted to transport for the internal distribution of food. When I spoke to the Ethiopian Vice-Minister for Relief last week he confirmed that there was still a shortfall of some 80 trucks; since then my officials have found a further 20 trucks, bringing the total purchased by my Department and the voluntary agencies to 50. Twenty trucks and two mechanics to service them have already been airlifted to Ethiopia, mostly with the help of the RAF, and are now operating from Sidamo and Wollo provinces. Of the remaining 30 trucks on order the RAF hopes to fly out on our behalf 10 at the end of this month, together with 10 Landrovers for relief purposes, six of which will be purchased by my Department. I hope that the remaining trucks will be delivered as soon as possible after they are ready in July.