HC Deb 19 June 1990 vol 174 cc546-7W
119. Mr. Fishburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance during the past year his Department has made to overseas disaster relief.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The major contribution made by the services in overseas disaster relief during 1989 was in the aftermath of hurrican Hugo in September. A full account is given at page 30 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990", Vol. 1 (Cm. 1022–1). In March 1990, a contingent of some 20 Royal Engineers from the garrison in Belize was deployed for four weeks to Western Samoa to help restore services and repair damage in the aftermath of cyclone Ofa.