During the first weekly question-and-answer session in the House of Commons since parliament returned this week from its summer recess, Blair said the new funds were on top of the ? million already pledged.
Meanwhile, private Taiwanese rescue teams to quake-stricken Pakistan were forced to return to Taiwan yesterday due to the bad weather that prevented other international rescue teams from arriving in the disaster zone.
The teams denied media reports that their return was caused by visa problems following protests from China, a close ally of Pakistan.
A Taiwanese aid official yesterday said that search and rescue teams were advised by Pakistani officials in Bangkok to delay their departure because of the weather in Pakistan.
Although the relief goods have been returned to Taiwan, China Airlines has promised to ship them to Pakistan at a later date, the official said.
Additional reporting by Chang Yun-ping
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