HC Deb 30 October 1980 vol 991 c313W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Lord Privy Seal what information he has of the amount of aid already given to St. Lucia following the recent hurricane by (a) Her Majesty's Government, (b) the European Economic Community, (c) the United Nations Organisations and (d) any other individual countries or international organisations; if he is satisfied with the amount of aid given; if his Department has received representations for additional aid; if such additional aid will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Neil Marten

The immediate aid given by Her Majesty's Government was set out in my reply of 7 August to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short)—[Vol. 990, c. 245]. The European Community gave £182,000 worth of food, Canada £30,000 for medical and other supplies, and the United States made available USS "Patterson" and £10,000 for relief supplies.

We are providing an extra grant of £750,000, mainly for the rehabilitation, in co-operation with other donors, of St. Lucia's devastated banana crop, and for the services of a Royal Engineers team to restore electricity and repair public buildings. We do not yet have full information about other donors' aid but substantial rehabilitation aid has been promised by the European development fund, the United States and Canada. The Prime Minister of St. Lucia on his recent visit to this country has expressed his gratitude for the help that has been given.

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