§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pledges Her Majesty's Government have made for food aid to the Horn of Africa; and what percentage of total pledges they represent in real terms.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have so far in 1992–93 pledged 57,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid for the Horn of Africa. 231W In addition, we have agreed to the use of 8,346 tonnes of our multilateral pledge to the World Food Programme for emergency operations in Eritrea. Taken together, these represent some 6.5 per cent. of total pledges, which, according to the WFP, amount to approximately 1 million tonnes for 1992.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will be increasing levels of food aid to the Horn of Africa in response to the recent statements from the UN World Food Programme.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAn additional 12,000 tonnes of food aid for the Horn of Africa was announced on 1 June in response to recent reports indicating the need for further pledges. A new special emergency programme for the Horn of Africa (SEPHA) appeal is expected shortly and we will be considering carefully our response to that as soon as it is issued.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what quantity of aid the Overseas Development Administration has provided for Ethiopia for the years 1989 to 1992; and what quantity of aid it plans to provide in the years 1993 to 1996, in cash and real terms.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydExpenditure in 1989, 1990 and 1991 was respectively £12 million, £20 million and, provisionally, £22 million, mainly in the form of humanitarian assistance. In 1992, humanitarian aid provided under the bilateral programme has so far amounted to £11 million.
Future humanitarian needs, and our response, will be considered at the time. Under the long-term bilateral development programme, we expect to be involved in the rehabilitation process through non-governmental organisations and in such key sectors as education, including training.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will provide additional resources to ensure that pledges of food aid to the Horn of Africa are not delayed.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn addition to new pledges of food aid, we have already provided £4 million for infrastructure projects aimed at facilitating delivery of relief supplies. We shall be considering carefully what further response is required to the new special emergency programme for the Horn of Africa appeal, which is expected shortly.