§ Mr. Wrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if measures have been taken to ensure that Third world countries do not receive food aid from the European Economic Community which is damaged or totally unfit for human consumption.
§ Mr. Chris PattenYes. The Council of Ministers agreed a new regulation governing EC food aid during the British presidency in December 1986. A subsequent Commission regulation establishing a new system for the mobilisation of food aid, which includes provisions for quality control, became effective in July 1987.
§ Mr. Wrayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urgently demand a review of the way in which staff at the European Commission discharge their duties of quality and price control of food distributed either commercially or as aid.
§ Mr. Chris PattenNo. The position on food aid is described in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question.
We are in touch with the Commission about the tightening up of the management of intervention stocks and we strongly support their efforts, and those of the Court of Auditors and the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament, in this regard.