§ 26. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total annual cost of the International Labour Bureau of the League of Nations; and what is the annual contribution towards this cost made by Great Britain and other Powers, respectively?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)I have been asked to reply. The expenditure of the International Labour Organisation for the calendar year 1924 is estimated, at current rates of exchange, at £315,000. In addition, the sum of about £73,000 has been provided in the 1924 Budget as a temporary contribution to meet a deficiency in the accounts of the organisation at the end of 1922 occasioned by arrears of contributions. This makes a total provision: of £388,000. The contribution of the British Empire (excluding those Dominions who are independent members of the organisation and make separate contributions, namely, Australia, Canada, India, Irish Free State, New Zealand, South Africa) is based on the proportions established for the general expenses of the League of Nations, and is a little under 10 per cent. of the total. This amounts in 1924 to approximately £37,000. With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the proportion of the expenses of the organisation allocated to each country.
§ Following is the statement promised:
§ Scale for the allocation of the expenses of the League for the year 1924:
1290| States. | Units. |
| Abyssinia | 2 |
| Albania | 1 |
| Argentine | — |
| Australia | 26 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Belgium | 15 |
| Bolivia | 5 |
| Brazil | 35 |
| British Empire | 88 |
| Bulgaria | 7 |
| Canada | 35 |
| Chile | 15 |
| China | 65 |
| Colombia | 7 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Cuba | 9 |
| Czechoslovakia | 35 |
| Denmark | 12 |
| Esthonia | 3 |
| Finland | 10 |
| France | 78 |
| Greece | 9 |
| Guatemala | 1 |
| Haiti | 2 |
| Honduras | 1 |
| Hungary | 3 |
| India | 65 |
| Ireland | 10 |
| Italy | 61 |
| Japan | 61 |
| Latvia | 3 |
| Liberia | 1 |
| Lithuania | 4 |
| Luxemburg | 1 |
| Netherlands | 20 |
| New Zealand | 10 |
| Nicaragua | 1 |
| Norway | 11 |
| Panama | 1 |
| Paraguay | 1 |
| Persia | 6 |
| Peru | 10 |
| Poland | 25 |
| Portugal | 9 |
| Rumania | 29 |
| Salvador | 1 |
| Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes | 26 |
| Siam | 10 |
| South Africa | 15 |
| Spain | 40 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| Switzerland | 15 |
| Uruguay | 7 |
| Venezuela | 5 |
| Total | 932 |
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWill the hon. Member at the same time circulate information as to how many countries are in arrears with their payments?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes.