§ 6. Mr. Eric Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now announce what contribution His Majesty's Government are prepared to make to the International Children's Emergency Fund.
§ 18. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now state to what extent or in what manner the decision to contribute to the International Children's Emergency Fund is to be implemented.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)His Majesty's Government have decided to make a contribution of £100,000 but the exact fashion in which this will be allocated is not yet determined.
§ Mr. FletcherIs my right hon. Friend aware that this announcement will give general satisfaction?
§ Mr. SorensenMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether this is a final contribution, and whether no further money is expected?
§ Mr. BevinThe Lord Mayor of London made a great appeal to the British people, who are making a great response, as are also people in the Commonwealth, and this is a token contribution which I was asked to obtain as showing the interest of His Majesty's Government in the matter.
§ Mr. LipsonMay I ask my right hon. Friend if his statement means that the Government's contribution will be made exclusively to the Lord Mayor's Appeal Fund?
§ Mr. BevinNo; I am discussing that. I do not know yet whether the funds raised in Great Britain in total through the Lord Mayor will rank in accordance with American law or not. Therefore I have to reserve the allocation until I know.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs my right hon. Friend aware that this amount is only about one-tenth of the sum that some of us had hoped His Majesty's Government would be able to contribute, and that it represents only one-eighth of the amount which has been contributed, for example, by the Government of Australia? Will he not see whether a little more generous contribution could not be made by this country?
§ Mr. BevinI have to remind the House that I have to consider the total contribution made by this country since the war ended, and, if my hon. Friend will add up the total amount paid by the British taxpayers, he will find that we stand proportionately equal compared with anybody.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWill the Minister say how this Fund will be administered, how the beneficiaries will be selected, and how will any possible dispute about these matters be determined?
§ Mr. SorensenMay I, for further clarification, ask my right hon. Friend whether this sum will be paid to the Lord Mayor's Fund, and whether it precludes a certain percentage increase on other contributions? Will he say if this amount goes direct to the Lord Mayor's Appeal Fund?
§ Mr. BevinI have already answered that. I must wait and see what test is to be applied by other countries, and that is why I say that the allocation is withheld.