4. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many, if any, Armenian, Russian, Czecho-Slovakian or other refugees are at present being supported by the British taxpayer; and when all expenditure under this head will cease?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The Armenian refugee camp in Iraq is being closed down and all the Armenians, except a relatively small number, who will be absorbed in Iraq, have been despatched by sea to Armenia, where they will be taken over by the Armenian Government. A grant of £30,000 has been made to keep them from starvation until the harvest. The remaining refugees from Egypt are to be transported at the same time. It is confidently anticipated that this will be the end of the British Government's obligation in this respect and that there will be no further expenditure under this head after the end of the current financial year. No Czecho-Slovak refugees are being supported by His Majesty's Government. The number of Russian refugees at present being maintained from public funds amounts to approximately 4,600. Negotiations are in progress with a view to bring these obligations to an end, but I cannot name any specific date on which expenditure on this head will cease.
Sir J. D. REESIs this House to understand that on the expenditure of this £30,000 everything ceases, or is there still an indefinite and continuing obligation to be met by the British taxpayer?
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYWhat is the total annual charge involved?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHWith regard to the first supplementary question, the sum of £30,000 applies only to the Armenians repatriated from Iraq, and has no reference to my statement about the Russians. With regard to the second supplementary question, this matter will come up in the course of the Debate on the Supplementary Estimates.