§ 72. Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Soviet authorities concerning assistance for the earthquake victims of Armenia.
§ 73. Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts the Government have made to aid earthquake victims in Armenia.
§ Mr. Chris PattenOn 9 December I announced emergency aid of £5 million in response to the Armenian earthquake. So far this has been used, in collaboration with the British Red Cross, to finance 12 relief flights carrying tents, clothing, medical supplies, emergency food rations, heavy earth-moving equipment and other relief supplies. We have also financed a team of firemen and a team of medical experts as well as providing £113,500 to CARE Britain for food parcels. All this assistance has been made in response to specific requests from the Soviet authorities, which have expressed their gratitude for all the help provided from Britain.
The search and rescue phase of the relief operation is now over and the balance of our £5 million will be used for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities which are now under consideration by the Soviet authorities.