§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by his Department to ensure that existing food pledges result in immediate food deliveries to the people of Ethiopia.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe world food programme is responsible for the co-ordination of food aid deliveries to Ethiopia. In order to reach those in need as quickly as possible, we channel our food aid through international 499W agencies, including WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR and British non-governmental organisations. Deliveries of United Kingdom food aid are phased to take account of in-country storage and distribution capacity. Britain has pledged 93,366 tonnes of food to Ethiopia since last September. A total of 55,000 tonnes is already in the country.