§ Ms. Quinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he will make to his European colleagues within the Council of Ministers concerning the granting of extra emergency food aid from the European Economic Community to Somalia and Mozambique; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Community agreed earlier this month to allocate another 55,000 tonnes of food aid to Mozambique, in addition to 60,000 tonnes allocated in March, and to provide 13,500 tonnes to Somalia. We are monitoring the situation in both countries closely, and will urge further Community help if required.
§ Ms. Quinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra emergency aid the Government is planning to provide for Somalia and Mozambique in view of the shortage of food in both countries at the present time.
§ Mr. Chris PattenWe are already delivering 7,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid to Mozambique, and we have pledged a further 30,000 tonnes. In all, we are providing nearly £14 million of bilateral emergency help this year. For Somalia, we provided veterinary drugs and other emergency aid during the drought, as well as tarpaulins when the drought was ended by floods. The latest Food and Agriculture Organisation report shows that at the end of June the overall food supply situation remained satisfactory. I am ready to consider providing further emergency aid to both Somalia and Mozambique in the light of their needs and what other donors are doing.