§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give consideration to joining the French and Italian Governments in the provision of humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Dubrovnik; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe are urgently considering with all other member states of the European Community and with agencies of the United Nations and the International Red Cross movement options for co-ordinated humanitarian aid to the people of Dubrovnik, as well as to other parts of Yugoslavia affected by the recent fighting.
Ministers of the member countries of the Western European Union agreed on 18 November to examine the possibility of helping the Red Cross by the use of naval units in the area. We have already responded to Red Cross requests by providing 425,000 blankets and a cash grant of £250,000, together valued at £.1.75 million, for the victims of the fighting. Consignments of these blankets have gone direct to Dubrovnik.