HC Deb 19 February 1958 vol 582 cc1181-3
3. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decision was made by the United Nations at its recent meeting regarding funds to maintain the Palestine refugees and to provide for their resettlement.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ormsby-Gore)

At its last session, the General Assembly noted with grave concern that contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees were not sufficient to meet the Agency's budgets for relief and rehabilitation. It adopted a resolution urging Governments to consider to what extent they could contribute or increase their contributions to the Agency and requesting the Secretary-General to make, as a matter of urgent concern, special efforts to secure the additional funds needed.

Mr. Brockway

Would Her Majesty's Government, in view of two developments, take urgent initiative on this matter; the first being that the very low figure of 1,600 calories may have to be reduced; and, secondly, that the union of Jordan and Iraq may give an opportunity for resettlement?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

This matter is being pursued with a sense of urgency, and the Secretary-General has sent a special envoy round a number of countries to try to get an increase in their contributions, and also to get a number of countries to make their first contribution, which would also be very welcome.

Mr. Bevan

Is it not a fact that the solution of this problem requires a much more imaginative approach than has yet been displayed towards it? Is it not obvious that we cannot get sufficient funds permanently for the resettlement of these refugees unless we consider the non-oil States as well as the oil States in some comprehensive scheme? May I also ask if it is not the fact that the recent negotiations about royalties from Kuwait have disclosed that our own policy is so poverty-stricken that all it has resulted in is making some Arab States richer than they ought to be while not helping the poorer ones?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The right hon. Gentleman has developed a far wider question than the one on the Order Paper. The United Kingdom Relief and Works Agency is not engaged in resettlement for the very good reason that this introduces all kinds of other political considerations which it is not able to deal with, and, therefore, that does not arise under this Question.

Mr. Bevan

With all respect, the right hon. Gentleman has not read the Question, which reads— … at its recent meeting regarding funds to maintain the Palestine refugees and to provide for their resettlement. It does not connect the resettlement with the Refugee Fund, if I understand English grammar aright.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think the Question is incorrectly framed, because the United Nations did not ask anyone to provide funds for resettlement.

Mr. Bevan

Why not?