HC Deb 09 November 1949 vol 469 cc1224-5
74. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for the final settlement of the hard core of displaced persons who remain in Germany, amounting to approximately 180,000.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)

While the International Refugee Organisation will continue to make every effort to resettle those displaced persons who are not usually eligible for current emigration schemes, there will undoubtedly be at least 100,000 who will have to remain in Germany. These, while continuing to enjoy the protection of the Occupying Powers, will become the responsibility of the German authorities. Wherever possible they will be assisted to become self-supporting and institutional care will be provided for those refugees who are incapacitated.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask my hon. Friend whether he considers that one solution to this unhappy problem would be to get those Governments to whose countries the young people—the breadwinners—have in the main gone, to take also the old people, the aged and sick who have been left behind? Much of this hard core consists of persons of that kind.

Mr. Mayhew

That would be a desirable solution and one which we have constantly advocated. The I.R.O. does press that, but, unfortunately, we have to be guided by what is practicable and what the receiving country will take.

Mr. Scollan

Does the answer of my hon. Friend to the original Question mean that we are taking responsibility for 80,000 out of the 180,000 mentioned in the original Question? He said that the new German Government would be responsible for 100,000. Does that mean that we are responsible for the 80,000?

Mr. Mayhew

I do not necessarily accept the figure in the original Question.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

My hon. Friend says they are the responsibility of the German authorities. Is that quite right? Are they not the responsibility of the I.R.O.?

Mr. Mayhew

I am considering the situation when the I.R.O. is wound up. In that situation they will be the responsibility of the German authorities with the protection of the occupying authority.

Mr. Stokes

Is the Minister making really forceful representations to the other Governments concerned to get them to adopt the form of policy suggested in my supplementary question?

Mr. Mayhew

We have pressed it in the past, but the first thing to press is that countries shall take refugees of some kind. Unfortunately it has not been possible in many cases for countries to take any refugees.

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