§ 40. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent information he has received from the United Nations about the conditions of civilian refugees in Korea; and how much of the money voted for the relief of refugees has been spent.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Nutting)The conditions of civilian refugees in Korea and the civil assistance afforded are described in the Report of the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea to the General Assembly, and in the Report of the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social Council. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 12th November to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen). His Majesty's Government have on request provided salt, food, yeast and medical supplies for emergency relief, and the remainder of the£400,000 voted for immediate relief needs will probably be spent in the current financial year on salt, grain and charcoal. Of the£9,600,000 voted for the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency,£250,000 have been paid into the Agent-General's sterling account.
§ Mr. HughesWould the Minister assure us that there will be no cut in the fund for the Korean refugees, as was advocated by one of the Tory papers during the election?
§ Mr. NuttingThere will certainly be no cut. As the hon. Member knows, we have voted, that is to say we have pledged£10 million to this end, and so far the Agent-General has only asked us to devote£400,000 to immediate relief and£250,000 to long-term relief.