§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the total tonnage of all meat products despatched to each CIS republic separately from the United Kingdom under all aid programmes has been(a) delivered to warehouses in former CIS republics, (b) delivered to retail outlets ready for sale and (c) delivered to caring and educational institutions for free distribution.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydRussia is the only CIS republic to have received meat products from the United Kingdom under an aid programme. Of the total of 5,200 tonnes of beef delivered, approximately one third went to meat processing factories, one third to retail outlets—supermarkets—and one third to special institutions—hospitals, schools and orphanages.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what moneys have been spent on providing know-how to persons residing permanently in the CIS on the subject of farm product and retail food distribution.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFood distribution is one of four priority areas identified for assistance under the352W Government's know-how fund for the former Soviet Union. In Russia alone we have already provided £1.022 million as technical assistance to support Feed Aid, food processing and distribution, plus about £1 million for a study of bread production in Moscow. A further £1.6 million has been earmarked for food-related projects and several further major food production and distribution proposals are currently under consideration.
In Ukraine, we have approved a £2.5 million food marketing and distribution project. Expenditure to date is £0.075 million. Also under way is a £0.460 million radioactivity food screening project, of which £0.1 million has been spent.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total tonnage of all meat products despatched to CIS states from the United Kingdom under all aid programmes in the last six months.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydA total of 5,200 tonnes of beef were despatched to Russia from the United Kingdom under all aid programmes during the last six months. No deliveries were made to other CIS states.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many monitors from EC countries have been stationed in each of the former CIS republics, with the responsibility for monitoring meat distribution in each of the last six months.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAn EC task force of some 50 personnel from the member states has been based in Russia since the end of January, monitoring the transport and distribution of EC humanitarian food supplies. The United Kingdom has supplied six personnel at any time. In other states of the former Soviet Union, the Commission has arranged for European non-governmental organisations to monitor delivery and distribution.