§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the developmental value of European Community food aid.
§ Mr. RaisonFood aid has a special role in emergencies, but most food aid is not used to remedy disasters. If not administered with great care it can have unfortunate consequences. Free or cheap food can hold down the prices the farmer would otherwise receive, and undermine incentives to increase agricultural production; and it can accustom people to new diets and create a demand for imports that did not previously exist. Dairy products, which represent about two-thirds of the total cost of Community food aid, are in most cases a particularly inappropriate form of aid.