HC Deb 14 February 1991 vol 185 c539W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine whether Hercules aircraft are used for famine relief.

Mrs. Chalker

Aircraft of any type are used as a last resort in famine relief operations, due to their limited load capacity and extremely high operating costs. Where sea or ground transport cannot be used, however, airlifts are recognised as an alternative means of delivering food. In such operations Hercules aircraft have advantages in operating into short or inaccessible airstrips.

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