asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider relief for the 30,000 people suffering in famine conditions in the Ogaden Desert region of South-East Ethiopia.

I have been asked to reply.I am watching the situation very carefully but as yet no request for assistance has been made by the Ethiopian Government. A member of my Disaster Unit has just returned from a visit to the area and he will be discussing the situation with the Disaster Emergency Committee of the Voluntary Societies early next week. Various charitable organisations are already providing effective help and I am prepared to consider ways in which we might give assistance through them.