HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 c784W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it remains the intention of the European Council to deliver 1,200,000 tons of food to the drought-stricken nations of northern and east Africa as was decided at the European Council in Milan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

It is of course the Community's intention to deliver the full 1.2 million tonnes of cereals or cereal equivalent pledged at the European Council in Dublin as rapidly as possible. But we have to take account of the congestion at the ports in the countries concerned. Together with other donors we are making every effort to improve internal distribution so that we can get the food moving more rapidly from the ports.