HL Deb 19 November 1986 vol 482 cc335-6WA
Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

asked Her Majesty's Government:

If they will make a statment on the outcome of the European Community Development Council on 11th November.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

My honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Patten) chaired the Council. The United Kingdom was represented by my honourable friend the member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar).

Discussion at the Council centred on reform of the Community's food aid programme. The Council agreed a common position on a new food aid regulation aimed at improving food aid policy and management. It will lead to faster and more appropriate responses in emergencies, more efficient procedures, a relaxation of the rules governing the purchase of food aid from outside the Community, and better links between food and other Community development assistance. Conciliation with the European Parliament on two institutional issues will take place as soon as possible.

The Council also adopted a resolution establishing for the first time guidelines on use of Community aid to support developing countries' policies towards population growth.

The Council congratulated the Commission on negotiating national programmes of aid from the sixth European development fund (EDF VI) to the 66 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries that have signed the third Lom⃩ Convention. The Council noted the determination of many developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to continue with or embark on the process of reform and adjustment which is necessary if aid is to be effective. A financial regulation was also adopted containing detailed provisions for the implementation of EDF VI.

The Council also congratulated the Commission on the implementation of the Community's rehabilitation plan for countries in Africa worst affected by famine in 1985; and it discussed proposals on how to provide compensation for loss of agricultural export earnings to least developed countries not signatory to the Lom⃩ Convention and on the Community's aid programme to Asia and Latin America.