§ 47. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the amount of the British contribution to the Economic Commission for Europe in the last financial year.
The Minister of State (Mr. Hector McNeil)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Edinburgh (Sir W. Darling) on 12th May.
§ Mr. WarbeyCan my right hon. Friend say whether it is not true that our contribution to the budget of the Economic Commission for Europe is a very tiny fraction of what we are spending, for example, in Germany, Austria, Greece, and the Middle East?
Mr. McNeilIt is certainly much smaller than our aggregate expenditure in those countries, but the budget for E.C.E. last year was over one million dollars.
§ 48. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons he has proposed a reduction in the budget of the Economic Commission for Europe.
Mr. McNeilHis Majesty's Government, as one of the main contributors to the budget of the United Nations, consider it essential that there is no wasteful expenditure by the Commission. In the recent Debate on the Economic Commission for Europe in the United Nations Economic and Social Council, I paid tribute to the good work done by the Commission, and I urged that it should not embark on activities which show little prospect of achieving practical results. I stressed that it should confine its work to these subjects on which effective international action can be taken on the regional planes without duplicating the work of the functional commissions and specialised agencies of the United Nations.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhile my right hon. Friend criticises expenditure on wasteful items in the budget of the E.C.E., will he give an assurance that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to expand and promote all the useful activities of this body?
Mr. McNeilYes, most gladly. I fear that my hon. Friend is suspecting me, but I assure him that there is no reason for suspicion. On all reasonable activities of the E.C.E., His Majesty's Government have sent people of good calibre. We have been anxious to assist, and we do not grudge money that is legitimately and well spent. All we are anxious to avoid is extravagance.
§ 49. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his attitude to the future work of the Economic Commission for Europe.
Mr. McNeilHis Majesty's Government will continue to support those activities of the Economic Commission for Europe which they consider likely to contribute to the economic rehabilitation of Europe.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs my right hon. Friend not aware that in none of the three answers he has given me has he given any indication of what His Majesty's Government regard as useful activities; will he agree that, in the light of the statement made two years ago, an increase in trade between Eastern and Western Europe is an essential condition of the fulfilment of the Marshall Plan; and is he endeavouring to use the E.C.E. for that purpose?
Mr. McNeilThe E.C.E. has got into rather a tangle upon this subject. I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures, which show that the trade of His Majesty's Government in this respect has consistently expanded.