§ 50. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health whether he will give instructions to the British delegates to the Annual Conference of the World Health Organisation to propose an increase in the regular budget of that body, in view of the great value of its work both to this country and to all members of the United Nations Organisation.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithNo, Sir. The 1956 budget proposed by the Director-General of the Organisation already provides for a small increase over that for 1955, which, in turn, was substantially higher than the budget for 1954.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopDoes the hon. Lady appreciate that the figures proposed are woefully inadequate for the very wide needs of the World Health Organisation? Will she instruct the delegates from this country to press for greater world recognition of the importance of this work and the willingness of this country to make its contribution towards it?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThere is a very clear line of demarcation between the World Health Organisation and the particular items which are far more appropriate to the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance which comes under the Foreign Office. As early as 1952 the General Assembly of the United Nations urged that the time had come for these Specialised Agencies to stabilise their regular budgets and clearly define their operations.