HC Deb 29 April 1947 vol 436 cc1725-6
65. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to ensure that British contributions to U.N.R.R.A. have and are being spent correctly, in accordance with the accepted objects of U.N.R.R.A.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

This has been the duty of the representative of His Majesty's Government on the various U.N.R.R.A. committees.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Is the Financial Secretary satisfied with that arrangement in view of the fact that many of the goods supplied through U.N.R.R.A. are sold by the countries which receive them to other countries at a profit, and that in the case of Italy, certainly, the U.N.R.R.A. organisation has been used to promote illegal Jewish emigration?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

We do what we can to see that this money is properly used. The machinery is fairly full, but it is obvious that where you have sums of this sort covering such an enormous area occasionally things go wrong. As a general rule, however, I think this money does reach its right destination.

Sir W. Smithers

Is the Financial Secretary aware that a very serious allegation has been made about the way the British taxpayers' money has been wasted through U.N.R.R.A., has he had the opportunity of seeing the evidence I sent to the Treasury that, as my hon. Friend has said, much of the money reaches illegal quarters, and will he have an inquiry made as to where the British taxpayers' money goes?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

All these things can and will be debated at the appropriate time.