§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Desert Locust 383W Control Organisation in 1988; whether its work has been restricted in any countries; what action the Government have taken to maximise the Desert Locust Control Organisation's effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn 1988 we contributed a total of over £700,000 for the locust control activities of the Desert Locust Control Organisation in Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA), mainly in the form of emergency supplies. We also committed 1.75 million for its armyworm control project, of which we spent over £60,000 in 1988. We understand that conflict in northern Somalia and Ethiopia restricted DLCO-EA's ability to work in certain areas.
Following a review of DLCO-EA in 1987, carried out with the European Community, we are providing an operations adviser, two pilots and training for DLCO-EA staff to help to improve operational performance. We have also offered to provide expert advice in strategic planning, financial management and vehicle fleet management, together with a number of trucks. Only when we receive confirmation that DLCO-EA is implementing the recommendations of the 1987 review will we consider providing further long-term support.