§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what volume of food was delivered(a) by her Department and (b) by the European Union, to Southern Africa in 2002; and what the total volume of food pledged (i) by her Department and (ii) by the European Union, to Southern Africa is for 2003. [87480]
§ Clare ShortMy Department does not provide food aid directly, but funds the provision of food through operational partners such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The WFP plans to deliver 993,000 tonnes of food during the period September 2002 to March 2003 for the humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa. The UK has so far provided WFP with funding for 65,231 tonnes (6.57 per cent. of the total confirmed contributions of 662,945 tonnes).
568WThe European Community (EC) has committed 272,000 tonnes of food (of which 153,000 tonnes was through the WFP) for this humanitarian crisis since the beginning of 2002. The UK provides approximately 19 per cent. of funding for EC operations.