World Poverty and Arms Purchases

HC Deb 20 February 1985 vol 73 c481W

92. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other European Economic Community Foreign Ministers regarding world poverty and arms purchases; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

Developmental issues are dealt with at ministerial level at meetings both of the Development Council, which are normally held twice a year, and of the Foreign Affairs Council and at the European Council. The most recent example was the discussion on the famine in Africa at the European Council on 3 and 4 December 1984, which resulted in the Community's pledge to supply 1.2 million tonnes of grain to the worst affected countries. Neither the Community nor the Ten discuss arms purchases.