The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP

Secretary of State

Department for International Development

1 Palace Street

London

SW1E 5HE

26^th June 2012

Dear Andrew,

I am writing with regard to the food crisis in West Africa. I strongly welcome the Government’s positive response to the tremendous campaigning efforts of many of my constituents and others by giving an additional £10 million contribution to the global emergency aid effort earlier this month, and the further contribution of £5.4 million last week, alongside the European Commission announcement to further increase funding to the Sahel by €40 million.

I’m sure you will be acutely aware that this is the third crisis in the Sahel in less than a decade and, therefore, that long-term solutions are essential - in addition to emergency aid - in order to protect West African people from future food crises.

I believe the UK has a crucial ongoing role to play, firstly by pushing other donor countries to give their fair share to the UN appeal, and secondly by advocating and facilitating measures that will build resilience of local food production and markets. These include moving away from production of a relatively small number of crops for export towards investment in small scale agriculture; development of food reserves in vulnerable regions; and greater protections for women, children and the elderly.

I would be grateful for your thoughts on these matters and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP Brighton Pavilion