asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will hold discussions with the International Red Cross to ensure that substantial supplies of medical aid to get through to the Eritrean relief association.

We have had such discussions. The International Committee for

REAL PERSONAL DISPOSABLE INCOME*—1970=100
		United Kingdom	France	West Germany	United States	Japan
1971	…	102·8	106·6	104·2	104·0	107·7
1972	…	111·0	113·2	106·1	108·4	119·1
1973	…	116·7	120·7	106·5	115·5	134·9
1974	…	116·8	123·6	107·2	114·1	138·3
1975	…	116·7	129·4	110·1	116·6	145·5
1976	…	116·4	132·3	··	121·0	150·6
1977	…	115·1	··	··	··	··
* Before deducting but after deducting stock appreciation.
Sources: United Kingdom: National Income and Expenditure 1967–77, adjusted to international definitions.
Other countries: Derived from "National Account of OECD Countries 1976" Volume II.

Real personal disposable income in the United Kingdom in the first three quarters of 1978 was 6 per cent. up on the corresponding quarters in 1977. Figures for 1978 for other countries are not available.The comparisons may be affected by the different economic structures in the countries concerned. In particular, there are substantial differences, between countries in the proportion of the working population which is self-employed. These differences affect the levels of personal disposable income and may also affect the year-to-year changes.