HC Deb 06 March 1957 vol 566 cc342-3
13. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost of transporting Hungarian refugees from Austria to Great Britain; how much of this cost was paid by the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration; and when and why the movements ceased.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Of the 19,000 Hungarian refugees who have so far entered the United Kingdom, 12,615 were transported by the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration at, I understand, a cost of £135,000. In addition, the Committee has moved some 3,600 miners at the request and expense of the National Coal Board, the cost being about £40,000. Smaller parties of refugees have been brought to this country by various private organisations, and I am not in a position to inform the right hon. Member of the costs incurred by these organisations.

The large-scale movement of Hungarian refugees to this country was suspended towards the middle of December because of accommodation difficulties. In January Her Majesty's Government announced their willingness to receive another 5,000; but on 25th January the Inter-Governmental Committee informed us that it was unable to finance the movement of more of these refugees—of whom 550 had been moved—until agreement had been reached on financial responsibility. The remaining 4,450 are therefore being brought to this country by Her Majesty's Government at a cost of about £32,000.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Am I right in understanding that Her Majesty's Government paid about £40,000, or one-third of the cost of the £135,000 in respect of the refugees brought here from Hungary?

Mr. Harvey

That is correct.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Does the Joint Under-Secretary understand that the Government would have a great deal of support from hon. Members on both sides of the House if they would join this most useful organ of Commonwealth and European co-operation? Could not they be a little more generous about the transport of these Hungarians to this country?

Mr. Harvey

I note what the right hon. Gentleman says about joining this organisation. It is not the policy of the Government to change their decision on that issue. Frankly, I do not think that the Government can be regarded as having been ungenerous in the treatment of these refugees.