HC Deb 25 November 1991 vol 199 cc384-5W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development last visited Ethiopia.

Mrs. Chalker

I last visited Ethiopia on 28–29 January this year. Senior officials visited in October and November.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce increased levels of aid to Ethiopia.

Mrs. Chalker

We have provided increasing levels of humanitarian aid to Ethiopia. Since September 1990, we have committed almost £53 million for this purpose, including our share of EC emergency aid. We expect to continue to respond generously to meet emergency needs.

We are considering the future shape and level of our bilateral development aid programme. Our major contribution to Ethiopia's development, however, will continue to be through the multilateral development institutions, particularly the EC. Ethiopia is the largest single recipient of aid under Lomé IV.

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