HC Deb 07 February 1955 vol 536 cc1526-8
4. Wing Commander Bullus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total annual amount paid by Her Majesty's Government to organisations sponsored by the United Nations; if he will give a list showing each organisation and the amount contributed; and if he will state how these contributions compare with those of other nations.

17. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total sum contributed by Her Majesty's Government, for the latest year for which complete figures are available, to organisations sponsored by the United Nations; and if he will list the contributions to each organisation, together with the proportion of the total budget which this represents in each case.

Mr. Turton

The total United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations, the Specialised Agencies and the Extra-Budgetary Funds for 1954 was approximately £10,340,000. No other Government, except the United States of America, contributed so much. As a detailed statement of our contribution to these organisations, and of its proportion of their total budgets, is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Wing Commander Bullus

Would not my hon. Friend agree that this country is playing a marked and major part in the support of these organisations, despite our own large contributions to colonial development?

Mr. Turton

I would most certainly agree with that. I think that if my hon. Friend looks at the proportions of the total budgets paid by Her Majesty's Government, he will see that in many cases it is a very high proportion.

Mr. Younger

Would not the hon. Gentleman also agree that it is no more than our duty to play a large part, but just how large that part should be is a matter for argument?

Mr. Turton

I also entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman.

Following is the statement:

Organisation U.K. Contribution in 1954 Proportion of total budget
Per cent.
United Nations 1,360,942 9.80
World Health Organisation 340,964 10.74
U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 373,051 11.04
Food and Agriculture Organisation 223,813 10.52
International Labour Organisation 277,069 12.79
International Civil Aviation Organisation 90,416 9.80
World Meteorological Organisation 6,990 5.83
International Telecommunications Union (approx.) 28,200 5.98
Universal Postal Union 3,915 2.73
Expanded Technical Assistance Programme 650,000 7.28
U.N. International Children's Emergency Fund 200,000 4.32*
U.N. Relief and Works Agency (for the year ended 30th June, 1954) 1,785,714 22.22
U.N. Korean Reconstruction Agency (for year ended 30th June, 1954) 5,000,000 42.00
* U.N.I.C.E.F. depends in part on voluntary contributions. The percentage given is based on governmental contributions only.

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