§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received, and from whom, about the alleged misuse of both United Kingdom bilateral and European Community food and other aid for Ethiopia and, in particular, about its diversion to the Soviet Union; when the reports were received; what representations he has made to the European Community about this; what other action he has taken; what further steps he will now take; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonSince I replied to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on 28 February, reports alleging the misuse of food aid in Ethiopia have appeared in the press. Apart from this, since the end of January this year we have received representations from one Member of the House of Lords, one Member of the European Parliament, and one member of the public making or passing on similar allegations.
All these were drawn to the Commission's attention by our representative to the Community, most recently on 28 March, and I understand that M. Pisani, the Commissioner for Development, has instructed the Commission Delegate in Addis Ababa to investigate them, with the help of local representatives of the Community's member states. I am asking our ambassador in Addis Ababa to co-operate with the Commission over this as far as possible. Meanwhile, I raised the reports with the Ethiopian ambassador when he called on me on 28 March; he assured me that they were unfounded.
We are providing 27,000 tonnes of grain (worth approximately £3.3 million) to the world food programme to support projects in Ethiopia both directly and indirectly. We are also supplying emergency relief aid totalling £400,575 through certain British voluntary agencies and the UN Disaster Relief Organisation (UNDRO). I shall keep closely in touch with these bodies about their arrangements, but I have confidence in their experience in handling such operations.