HC Deb 24 February 1975 vol 887 cc1-3W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what purpose Common Market shipments of skimmed milk powder are put when exported as food aid; and if she will tabulate such arrangements made in 1973, 1974 and to date in 1975.

Mrs. Hart

Most Community skimmed milk exported as food aid is given for emergency relief or in connection with well-established projects, such as Operation Dairy Flood in India, or through such agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP). The remainder, about one-fifth, is distributed as aid for development projects and plans. The agencies have efficient methods of distribution and use control, and some recipient Governments have also issued special instructions as to use. Community financed aid programmes in skimmed milk powder from 1973 to date have totalled as follows:

1973
Country Metric tons
Upper Volta 1,800
Mali 2,100
Mauritania 1,800
Niger 2,500
Senegal 2,400
Chad 2,400
1973 total—13,000 metric tons.
1974
Country Metric tons
Upper Volta 2,600
Mali 2,900
Mauritania 2,000
Niger 3,200
Chad 800
Ethiopia 2,500
Morocco 100
Tunisia 100
Sudan 300
Jordan 600
Libya 100
United Arab Republic 450
Yemen Arab Republic 300
Afghanistan 300
Bangladesh 2,000
Indonesia 250
Pakistan 600
Philippines 100
India 2,750
Peru 100
Uruguay 100
International Red Cross 3,000
UNICEF 2,250
UNRWA 1,600
World Food Programme 20,000
Reserve 6,000
1974 total—55,000 metric tons.

1975 (to date)
Metric tons
Country From 1974 Reserve 1975 Programme (Part only) Total
Upper Volta 700 1,300 2,000
Mali 900 1,500 2,400
Mauritania 800 1,200 2,000
Niger 750 1,250 2,000
Senegal 500 500 1,000
Chad 500 500
Gambia 500 500
Ethiopia 500 1,600 2,100
Somalia 350 350
Reserve 1,150 1,150
Totals 5,000 9,000 14,000

Notes:

1973: All amounts have been delivered.

1974: The amount for the WFP and some for the IRC have not yet been taken up; and 400 metric tons for Sahelia is still to be delivered.

1975: Only 70 metric tons has been delivered yet, and that by air to Somalia.

Further amounts as under have been committed bilaterally by Her Majesty's Government directly to developing countries and through their regular pledges to the World Food Programme. Similar figures for other member States are not available to me.

1973 1974 1975
UK Skimmed Milk via WFP:
1. Value in £m. 0.19 1.17 1.50
2. Estimated tonnage (metric tons) 700 3,500 3,500
Somalia (metric tons) 18

Notes:

1973 and 1974: All amounts delivered.

1975: Somalia sent by air; 18 metric tons remain to be delivered to WFP.