§ Mr. Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total of aid given by means of non-returnable grant, whether in cash or kind, for the year 1983–84; and what proportion this was of the United Kingdom's total aid budget.
§ Mr. RaisonTotal aid in the form of grants in 1983–84 was £1,028 million, amounting to 93 per cent. of the gross aid programme.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what estimates the Overseas Development Agency drought unit has made of the shortfall of basic grain feedstuffs in each region in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what estimates have been made by the Overseas Development Agency drought unit of the number of persons affected by the lack of rainfall in Ethiopia over the past four years.
§ Mr. RaisonThe task of making such assessments lies primarily with the Ethiopian authorities and relevant international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what long-term initiatives the Overseas Development Agency drought unit has formulated to combat drought in Ethiopia.
§ Mr. RaisonAny long-term policy will have to be examined on a co-ordinated basis between potential donors and the Ethiopian Government. My administration is concentrating on the immediate delivery of relief supplies of all kinds.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received or expects to be proposed by the Overseas Development Agency drought unit on the results of the 1984 harvest and the prospects for the 1985 harvest in Ethiopia.
§ Mr. RaisonA crop assessment mission from the Food and Agricultural Organisation is now in Ethiopia, and we expect to receive an account of its findings.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Economic Community to establish when European Economic Community grain committed to Ethiopia will arrive at Assab, Massawa or Djibouti; when it is likely to be in famine areas in Ethiopia; and what is the timetable being proposed.
§ Mr. RaisonMy officials keep in close touch with those of the European Commission. 10,000 tonnes of grain agreed by the European Community last month as emergency aid will arrive in Ethiopia in mid-December. A further 25,000 tonnes emergency aid announced on 13 November will arrive by the end of December. 25,000 tonnes for a food for work project will arrive in two shipments in February and April next year. The European Commission's intention is to ship in addition 10,000 tonnes a month to Ethiopia throughout 1985, but this depends on agreement by the member states on the 1985 food aid programme. We are continuing to press urgently for a decision. I have no doubt that the voluntary organisations and Ethiopian Government agencies who will handle the grain on its arrival will make every effort to ensure it gets to the affected areas quickly.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the World Food Programme in Rome about likely arrivals of grain at Assab, Massawa or Djibouti for Ethiopia in November, December and January; and what is his estimate of the level of grain stocks at each of these ports to be moved by road and by air lift;
(2) how much grain the Royal Air Force has so far airlifted in Ethiopia; how much he now expects it to be able to move per day; and whether he is satisfied sufficient grain will arrive at ports in Ethiopia or Djibouti in the rest of November, December and January to keep the United Kingdom and other airlifts working to full capacity.
§ Mr. RaisonThe most reliable estimates available to me based on discussions with the World Food Programme indicate that grain arrivals at Assab will 26,300 tonnes in November, 86,000 tonnes in December and 52,700 tonnes in January. In addition, approximately 40,000 tonnes of grain are currently in stock at Assab, which is being removed from the port at the rate of about 3,000 tonnes a day. There is no clear information available on future arrivals at Massawa or Djibouti, but I understand there are no significant stocks of grain for Ethiopia at either port.
By 12 November the Royal Air Force had airlifted about 450 tonnes of grain in Ethiopia. On average each of the two Hercules expect to move about 40 tonnes a clay.