HC Deb 13 February 1958 vol 582 cc543-4
7. Mrs. Butler

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will consider the making of a Government donation to the Save the Children Fund to be earmarked for assistance to Aborigine children whose families have been displaced by the Woomera Rocket Range.

Mr. Alport

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Members for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) and Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 31st January, 1957. The welfare of the Australian aboriginal natives is entirely a domestic matter for the Australian Governments concerned.

Mrs. Butler

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a body of opinion, both in this country and in Australia, which considers that when a nation disrupts the economy of a whole people, however unintentionally, there is a moral obligation to try to alleviate the suffering thus caused? Would not such a constructive gesture be of great value in asserting our common humanity with these unfortunate people against the terrible and inhuman weapons that we are testing?

Mr. Alport

If the hon. Lady is alleging that any action by the United Kingdom Government has disrupted the life of the people concerned, the facts are not as she suggests. In case the hon. Lady has not already seen it, I would draw to her attention the report by the Australian Minister of Supply, which gives the full facts of this matter.