§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a further statement about the proposed airlift of aid for earthquake victims in Guatemala.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe British Consul was told by the Guatemalan authorities at 18.30 GMT yesterday that they were grateful for our offer of help but did not need it at present. Her Majesty's Government will not therefore be sending a plane to Guatemala; Press reports that British planes have been turned back are without foundation.
However, the Disasters Emergency Committee has arranged for an airlift of supplies provided by British voluntary societies to be sent to E1 Salvador for onward transmission to Guatemala. The supplies include blankets, medicaments, high-protein food, tents and a large sanitation unit of a type developed by Oxfam with help from aid funds. The good offices of the Red Cross will be used to facilitate the forwarding of the supplies from E1 Salvador to Guatemala.