HC Deb 06 March 1957 vol 566 cc341-2
6. Mr. G. Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what financial contributions Her Majesty's Government have made to date to the various funds for the relief of Hungarian refugees.

Mr. Ian Harvey

As the Answer is somewhat long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Jeger

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. and learned Friend to bear in mind that, although the more spectacular aspects of the Hungarian refugee problem have now passed away, the problem still remains, and will he consider very carefully any application for help that may come from the Austrian Government, as a large number of Hungarian refugees are still living in very bad conditions in Austria?

Mr. Harvey

I will ask my right hon. and learned Friend to bear that in mind.

Mr. Dugdale

Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that British refugees from Egypt are getting as much help, both from voluntary sources and from the Government, as are Hungarian refugees in this country?

Mr. Harvey

That is another question, and if the right hon. Gentleman will put it down, I will endeavour to answer it.

Following is the Answer: Her Majesty's Government have contributed £20,000 to the Austrian Government's Fund for Hungarian refugees; £15,000 to the United Nations Secretary-General's Fund for Hungarian refugees (which sum has since been paid over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by the Secretary-General); and £40,000 to the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration, who have been mainly responsible for the movement of Hungarian refugees from Austria. The contribution of 100 million French francs made by the Council of Europe to the Austrian Government's fund included approximately £18,000 from United Kingdom public funds. The total payment to foreign funds is thus about £93,000. In addition, as the House was informed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 31st January, Her Majesty's Government are spending some £230,000 on the resettlement of refugees in this country. Her Majesty's Government are also paying for the transport from Austria to the United Kingdom of some 4,500 Hungarian refugees at an estimated cost of £32,000. The total of all the above sums is approximately £355,000.
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