§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration he has given to the disposal of food surpluses presently stored in the United Kingdom towards world famine relief.
§ Mr. RaisonThe purpose of food aid is not to dispose of food surpluses but to help relieve famine and promote long-term development. The substantial food aid programmes of the European Community (up to 1.54 million tonnes of cereals and large quantities of other products in 1986) and of the British Government (110,000 tonnes of cereals annually) have the effect of reducing surplus stocks here to the extent that they are bought in the United Kingdom.