HC Deb 06 August 1980 vol 990 cc95-6W
Sir David Price

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much overseas aid in the form of food is being given during 1980–81 by the EEC to the starving peoples of the world; and how it compares with similar aid from the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Mr. Neil Marten

The European Community and its member States will collectively provide 1,650,000 tonnes of cereals under the food aid convention in 1980–81. The Community is also financing in 1980 150,000 tonnes of dried skimmed milk, 45,000 tonnes of butter oil and 6,200 tonnes of sugar. The cost of these programmes in 1980 to the Community budget alone will be over £200 million.

The United States will provide 4,470,000 tonnes of cereals under the convention in 1980–81 and its total agreed food aid budget for the year to 30 June 1981 is $1,153,000,000. No figures are available for such aid from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but that country is not a member of the food aid convention.