HC Deb 02 February 1990 vol 166 cc400-1W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on giving(a) emergency famine relief to Ethiopia and (b) assistance for long-term development.

Mr. Waldegrave

We shall continue to respond generously to the renewed threat of famine in Ethiopia and the hon. Member will be aware of the most recent commitment of relief aid announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 31 January at column189 As to the question of assistance for longer-term development, the Government's policy remains as stated in their observations (column 432) on the report of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on famine in the Horn of Africa and, in particular, in the response (page 6) to the recommendations contained in paragraph 101 of the report.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of the £0.7 million provided for food-growing programmes in Ethiopia referred to by the Minister for Overseas Development on 29 January,Official Report, column 16; and whether the Government will support agricultural rehabilitation programmes in Ethiopia, sponsored by British voluntary agencies.

Mr. Waldegrave

The figure stated by my right hon. Friend represents anticipated expenditure in the current financial year against overall commitments totalling £2.6 million in respect of four community-level, agricultural rehabilitation and development projects being implemented by British non-governmental organisations (CARE Britain, Farm Africa and SOS Sahel) and a commitment of up to £400,000 in respect of a research project designed to produce improved strains of teff (an indigenous cereal crop). Two further NGO proposals are under consideration and we remain ready to consider any others which may be submitted.