§ Mr. Craigenasked the Lord Privy Seal what discussions he and his colleagues have had with Ministers in other member countries of the European Community over famine relief in East Africa; and whether any food surpluses could be readily released for this purpose.
§ Mr. HurdDiscussions about the situation in East Africa have taken place among officials in the European Development Fund Committee, as a result of which some £5.6 million of emergency assistance has been committed to East Africa in recent months.
The United Kingdom share of this is about £1 million.
Out of the Community's food aid programme, which is additional to member
194WIn the private sector, 1,536 dwellings were completed and 1,300 started in the first quarter of this year compared with 1,565 dwellings completed and 1,455 started in the first quarter of last year. In the full year 1979, 6,914 dwellings were completed. New construction is only one part of the housing programme. The Government attach great importance to other aspects such as rehabilitation and improvement for sale.