asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they are now putting in place, on an inter-departmental basis, to ensure effective monitoring of potential humanitarian emergencies before they develop into an avoidable scale of disaster, so that an adequate response can be made bilaterally and the United Kingdom can assist in mobilising an adequate response multilaterally. [HL1423]

The Department for International Development has established global surveillance systems for the monitoring of potential and actual disasters. Internally, DfID is able to use information collected by its regional offices and also centrally through networks established with United Nations and other operational agencies in the field.In addition to in-house capacity, we have a recognised system of information sharing with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Our Embassies, High Commissions and other diplomatic offices also assist us with monitoring of potential crises. The combination of early warning systems in place, together with our extensive capacity to respond, means that DfID's multilateral and bilateral response to disasters is recognised as one of the most rapid and effective in the world.