HC Deb 10 November 1952 vol 507 cc585-7
42. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many displaced persons still remain in Western Germany; and what are their nationalities.

Mr. Nutting

From figures published by the German Federal Statistical Office the total number of displaced persons in Western Germany is estimated at between 180,000 and 200,000. About three-quarters of this total have been absorbed into the German economy, leaving between 45,000 and 53,000 still in camps. These figures include Poles, Ukrainians, Russians, Latvians, Yugoslavs, Czechoslovaks, Estonians, Hungarians, Roumanians and Stateless persons.

Mr. Younger

Am I to understand from that that the three-quarters of these people who are not in camps are now not really regarded as having any special status at all but are regarded simply as being residents in Germany, who are expected to remain in that condition?

Mr. Nutting

I understand that to be the case.

43. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the displaced persons still remaining in Western Germany are unable by reason of age or infirmity to pass the tests of fitness at present imposed upon intending immigrants by receiving countries.

Mr. Nutting

I regret that exact figures are not available. However, of the displaced persons still resident in camps about 8,000 are estimated to be permanently unfit for work and some 2,500 are over 65 years of age.

48. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what responsibility for the care and maintenance or resettlement of displaced persons now in Western Germany falls upon the occupying Powers, the German Federal Government, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees respectively.

Mr. Nutting

The administrative and financial responsibility for the care and maintenance of displaced persons has Iain with the German Federal Government since July, 1950.

Movement of migrants is being undertaken by the Provisional Inter-Governmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe, by various voluntary organisations, and by certain countries accepting immigrants. These countries also arrange for their resettlement on arrival. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for ensuring legal protection for refugees against discrimination. He may also make allocations to voluntary societies for care and maintenance of displaced persons from his Refugee Emergency Fund, authorised by the General Assembly of the United Nations last year.

Mr. Younger

Am I to understand from that answer that Her Majesty's Government have now really no direct responsibility for conducting the resettlement of these people, except in so far, as a member of United Nations, that this country may have some influence upon the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner?

Mr. Nutting

The United Nations High Commissioner has no responsibility for resettlement. That is dealt with by the other organisations which I have already listed. The United Nations High Commissioner is responsible only for the legal protection of the refugees against discrimination, and for advising certain Governments, such as the German Federal Government, about the integration by which the refugee falls into the local population.

Mr. Younger

Have the Government no responsibility regarding resettlement at all?

Mr. Nutting

We have no responsibility as regards resettlement in the organisations which deal with it. As regards the United Nations High Commissioner we have a responsibility, and, what is more, we have discharged it, by donating £100,000 to his Emergency Fund.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether an application for a contribution towards this very desirable object will be sought from Herr Krupp, who is now in a position to make quite a substantial contribution.

Mr. Noel-Baker

In view of the great importance of this refugee question to the internal stability of Germany, will Her Majesty's Government join the Inter-Governmental Committee at Geneva, and co-operate with them in getting a settlement?

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir. We cannot for the present, but we will keep the situation under review.

Forward to