To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to allocate funding for assistance programmes for those affected by recent hurricanes and storms in the Caribbean.

I am aware of the considerable damage and loss caused across the Caribbean by recent tropical storms and hurricanes including Tropical Storm Nicole, Hurricane Richard and Hurricane Tomas. For several Caribbean countries it has been a worse than normal storm season. My Department will consider whether to allocate assistance for the countries most severely affected once more detailed information has been finalised on the key areas of need beyond immediate humanitarian assistance.