HC Deb 21 April 1980 vol 983 cc15-6W
Mr. Rowlands

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will reinstitute the RAF Hercules flights into Phnom Penh to ferry urgent supplies and especially rice seed needed to avoid the threatened starvation.

Mr. Neil Marten

The capacity for handling aircraft at Phnom Penh is very limited and I understand that for the next two months at least the international relief agencies have adequate airfreight capacity at their disposal.

Mr. Rowlands

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been Her Majesty's Government's response to the second United Nations appeal for relief funds and supplies; and how much Her Majesty's Government pledged at the conference.

Mr. Neil Marten

I assume that the question refers to Cambodia. My hon. Friend the Minister of State the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) told the House during the Adjournment debate on 3 April—Vol. 982, c. 713]—that we were considering how we should respond, both directly and through a joint contribution from the European Community, to the United Nations Secretary-General's second appeal. That is still the position, but we hope to make an announcement shortly.