The volcano that threatens to engulf the island with ash

Junior Minister to Visit Montserrat

• Cautious Welcome for British "Action Group"
• Short Defends Handling of Crisis
• British Government Freezes Aid
• Liberal Democrats Demand Emergency Meeting

The Foreign Office has confirmed that junior minister George Foulkes will visit the volcano-hit island of Montserrat on Sunday, August 31st.

The decision that Mr Foulkes, of the Department for International Development, should fly out to Montserrat to see the situation at first hand follows weeks of heated exchanges between the island's government and London.

George Foulkes: troubleshooter

Mr Foulkes' visit hung in the balance after suggestions from the island's chief minister David Brandt that the British minister might not be welcome.

However, Mr Brandt has softened his line, saying: "I would welcome any minister from England to come to Montserrat, not only to see me, but to talk to the people directly so that they will hear the hurt of the people."

The International Development Secretary, Clare Short, had turned down a request to visit the island herself.

She said Mr Foulkes - her deputy - would have discussions with the Antiguan government and would be accompanied on the trip by senior officials from his own department and the Foreign Office.

The announcement of Mr Foulkes' trip follows a row over Ms Short's handling of the volcano crisis and comes on the day a new committee to deal with Montserrat met for the first time.

Robin Cook: defends Clare Short over handling of crisis

Ms Short denied that the creation of such a body was a "snub" and reflected badly on the way she has dealt with aid to the island - a British colony - but she admitted that it could be seen that way.

After the meeting of the Montserrat Action Group, the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, expressed his support for Ms Short and her plan to "ensure the people of Montserrat have choices".

Action Group's Four-Point Plan

The group looked at four areas:

• Resettlement of Montserratians in other parts of the Caribbean
• Assistance for those who want to come to the UK
• Infrastructure improvements in the north of the island - the so-called "safe zone"
• Assistance to places such as Antigua which are receiving displaced Montserratians

But, despite calls from the islanders for more cash to ease their plight, the action group did not grant any extra money above the £41m in aid already earmarked for the island.

Bernie Grant Plans to "Break the Deadlock"

Meanwhile, Bernie Grant, Labour MP for Tottenham in London, has said he would fly to the island on Wednesday at Mr Brandt's request in a bid to "break the deadlock" in the island's relationship with the British Government.

Mr Grant, chairman of the all-party group on the Caribbean, said: "There is increasing desperation in Montserrat, and this has much to do with difficulties of communication, and a lack of understanding. Being from the region myself, I hope that I will be able to overcome some of these difficulties, and to report back with a more accurate account of the situation."

Mr Grant said that while he would not be representing the British Government during the trip, he had discussed it with Mr Cook, and would report to him on his return.