§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is given to Bangladesh to help prevent or mitigate flooding.
§ Mrs. ChalkerFollowing the serious flooding in Bangladesh in 1988, Her Majesty's Government provided some £26 million for emergency relief, including food aid, and longer-term rehabilitation. In order to help to identify means of flood control and alleviation in future, Her Majesty's Government hosted an international conference in London on 11–12 December 1989. The conference reviewed and broadly endorsed a rolling five-year flood action plan prepared for the Bangladesh Government by the World Bank. Delegates also pledged support for the 26 activities identified in the plan.
Of these activities, Her Majesty's Government have agreed to undertake a major regional study together with supporting studies on flood control and drainage/ agriculture, operation and maintenance and fisheries. A British team joined others in Dhaka in late January to discuss terms of reference for the studies and to undertake preliminary field visits. We also participated in a further meeting in Dhaka to consider Bangladesh's disaster preparedness plans.
I have just had the opportunity to visit other flood protection work in the greater Dhaka area, which is partly supported by the international community. The flood protection planning is well thought through. These positive contributions will at least help to protect the Dhaka area for some years to come, until the water flow from the north can be better harnessed for agriculture and other support in the south.