§ Sir Michael MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request he has received for assistance because of renewed volcanic threats in Montserrat; and if he will make a statement. [4803]
§ Mr. HanleyThese threats caused an orderly evacuation of 5,000 people to prepared sites in the north of the island on 1 and 2 December. There is a continuous dialogue between Her Majesty's Government, the Governor and the Government of Montserrat. As a result, some of the associated costs are being met by the Overseas Development Administration within the £3 million committed to monitoring, relief and evacuation preparedness initiatives since this emergency began in July.