§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been made homeless in the dependent territory of Montserrat as a result of Hurricane Hugo on 17 September; and what is the estimated cost of the damage sustained during the hurricane.
§ Mr. SainsburyA complete survey of the extent of damage to housing from Hurricane Hugo is being conducted by the Montserrat Government. Their preliminary estimates are that, of the 4,000 houses in Montserrat, perhaps as many as 30 per cent. were totally devasted and 60 per cent. rendered temporarily uninhabitable. It will clearly take time to produce an accurate assessment of the cost of the overall damage. The extent to which this figure will be met by insurance policies is also not yet known.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what material and financial help has been given to the Government of Montserrat since the hurricane of 17 September; and whether he will assist financially those people who have been left homeless to rebuild their homes and those people who have lost business and crops.
§ Mr. WaldegraveImmediately following Hurricane Hugo, Britain made an initial £1 million available to the area for emergency assistance, such as tents, blankets, roofing, medicaments, and also the services of British armed forces for immediate repairs and the airfreighting of supplies. Most of this assistance was directed to Montserrat. Subsequently, a further £3.2 million has been committed for reconstruction, mainly on Montserrat. A major use has been to finance teams of engineers, linesmen and electricians from British electricity boards to repair the electricity distribution system on Antigua and on Montserrat where over 50 men are currently working. It is also being used to purchase, for the Montserrat public works department, equipment and materials (such as galvanised sheeting, roofing shingles and nails) for public assistance housing, clinics, schools and other Government buildings.
A number of other donor Governments and agencies, including the United States, Canada and the European Community, are also providing emergency assistance.
Losses to private businesses, homes and crops are a matter for the companies and individuals concerned drawing on their private insurance cover. I understand the Montserrat Government is providing help for individuals facing particular difficulties.
British officials, including specialist advisers, from our development division in Barbados and from London, recently completed a report on Montserrat's longer-term needs. They have formulated a rebuilding strategy, which we will now be discussing with the Government of Montserrat and also with the international aid institutions and other donors. The aim will be to prepare an action plan and financing assessment.