HC Deb 04 August 1943 vol 391 cc2272-3
12. Professor A. V. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Inter-Governmental Committee on Refugees has now been reconstituted and given power to deal with postwar as well as present aspects of the problem of refugees; what are its membership and terms of reference; and whether it has yet met?

Mr. Eden

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Governmental Committee is being held to-day. It will be for the Executive itself, which consists of representatives of the Argentine, Brazilian, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States Governments and a French representative to make recommendations to the other members of the Committee regarding its future scope and functions, but I may say that it is certainly intended that the Committee should deal with both the present and the post-war aspects of the refugee problem.

Mr. Graham White

Can my right hon. Friend say by what means the experience and service of people with wide knowledge in this field who may not be Members of the Government will be made available to the Committee?

Mr. Eden

That is one of the points which the Committee will consider at their meeting.