§ 7. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decision Her Majesty's Government have reached on the proposal of the United Nations Economic Committee that the plan to set up a Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development should be deferred indefinitely and that in its place the scope of the technical assistance programme should be extended.
§ Commander NobleThe United Kingdom representative supported the Resolution adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 14th December, 1957, to establish a separate Special Fund. This Fund is intended to provide systematic and sustained assistance in fields essential to the integrated technical, economic and social development of the less-developed countries, beyond that provided by the existing technical assistance and development activities of the United Nations and the Specialised Agencies. In the same Resolution, the Assembly decided to review the scope and activities of the Special Fund when resources prospectively available are considered sufficient to enter into the field of capital development.
The Resolution thus embodies the proposals made earlier in the Assembly by the United States delegation for the establishment of a Special Projects Fund, and keeps the door open for the establishment of a United Nations multilateral capital development fund when sufficient and continuing resources are seen to be available. Her Majesty's Government welcome this outcome, and are confident that the new Fund, which should come 12 into existence on 1st January, 1959, can perform a useful function in furthering economic development in many parts of the world.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhilst welcoming the extended scope of technical assistance and the general tone of the reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not especially necessary to endorse and implement the Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development, as it would deal with the poverty of the people in these areas, the social services, education and health, which, at the present time, are being neglected by every international fund?
§ Commander NoblePerhaps I may, first of all, apologise to the House for the length of that reply, but as it was the first time, I think, that this matter had been raised in the House, I thought the House would like the full information. In answer to the hon. Member, the Resolution that was passed gives ample scope for the proposals he has in mind.
§ Mr. BevanAgain, I am sorry to pursue this, but it is necessary. Is it a sensible thing for the national policies of the United Nations and the West to go one way and for the declarations in the United Nations to go another? Has the Minister seen, in the last few days, that a new oil agreement has been reached with Kuwait, under which larger sums of money will be made available? Kuwait already has far more money than it needs—some Arab States have no money from oil—and if there had been collaboration between the various nations of the West it might have been possible for some of this money to have been paid into the Fund—not to swell fat people while leaving lean people leaner than ever.
§ Commander NobleI think the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary is a little far from the Question asked by his hon. Friend. If he studies the reply given to his hon. Friend, I think he will see that his question is answered.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonHowever laudable or otherwise this Fund may be, is it not a fact that the resources of the United Kingdom are not unlimited; and have not Her Majesty's Government a broader duty to provide economic and technical assistance required by parts of the Commonwealth?
§ Commander NobleYes. And I think that one must not forget that this country does provide something like £75 million a year in this sort of assistance.