Cuts In Aid To Somalia And Britains Obligations To The North

EDM number 935 in 1992-93, proposed by Alun Michael on 24/11/1992.

That this House regrets that the Lord President of the Council, in his answer to the honourable Member for Cardiff South and Penarth, Prime Minister's Question No.8, 24th November, Official Report col 739-40, failed to recognise that total British aid to Somalia was far less in 1991 (ú2.67 million) than in 1987 (ú7.3 million) during the bloody reign of the dictator Siad Barre; and showed no recognition of the fact that the Republic of Somaliland (Northern Somalia) is far less unstable than Mogadishu and the South; believes that investment now in administration, police and communications could prevent the North sliding into the chaos, famine and inhumanity which now characterises the South; reminds the Government that Britain is bound to the North by the family links of many British citizens and by the loyalty of the people of Somaliland through two world wars; and calls on the Government to take the minimal risk of investing now in giving Somaliland hope for the future.

This motion has been signed by a total of 83 MPs.