§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what food aid has been given by the United Kingdom Government from the European Union food surplus to help the Government of Pakistan feed Afghan refugees now living in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [17159]
§ Mr. HanleyNo food aid is being provided for Afghans who have settled in Pakistan, but 5,000 tonnes of wheat have been given to Afghanistan this financial year and a further 5,000 tonnes are expected next year.
UK food aid is not provided as a means of disposing of EU food surpluses, which in any case scarcely exists any longer.
§ Mr. Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the European Community—technical aid to the commonwealth of independent states project in 1996 on retraining activities in the Russian Federation. [16909]
§ Mr. HanleyThe European Commission, which manages TACIS, undertook in 1995 a mid-term assessment of its project for retraining discharged military officers in the Russian Federation. The current project is expected to end in December 1996, when a full independent evaluation of its achievements is planned, before proposals are put forward on any further EC support for retraining.