Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the impact on Brazil’s GDP of floods in the Rio Grande do Sul region.

I [Minister Rutley] visited Brazil in May, where I met with Rio Grande do Sul's representative to Brasilia, Henrique Pires, to discuss the impact of the floods, and how the international community can support. The UK has supported an allocation of £193,000 through the Start Fund to provide humanitarian aid in response to the flooding in Brazil and are working with British companies in Brazil to support their donation efforts. His Majesty The King has written to President Lula to offer his condolences. We are in regular communication with the Brazilian authorities to understand the evolving economic and environmental impact of the floods.