§ Lord Barnbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, since discontinuance of BBC External Services on Somalia, any other indication of continuing United Kingdom interest in Somalia is being substituted.
§ Lord CarringtonThe BBC Somali Service has not yet been discontinued. When it is, the BBC's World Service in English and the Arabic Service, which are understood by some inhabitants of Somalia, will continue and their audibility will be improved. We are determined to continue to maintain our cordial relations with Somalia. One example of this is our aid programme under which bilateral disbursements to Somalia in 1981–82 are expected to reach £1.75 million and a further £1 million will be donated through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.