HC Deb 24 June 1959 vol 607 cc1178-80
26. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sum of money Her Majesty's Government have contributed towards the Special Fund of $100 million for large-scale technical assistance projects established by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14th October, 1958.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As my hon. Friend informed the House on 23rd February, Her Majesty's Government have pledged the sterling equivalent of $1 million to the Special Fund for the calendar year 1959. The right hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension when he states that the General Assembly established a Special Fund of $100 million. In fact, the General Assembly thought that the resources available for the combined technical assistance and the development programmes of the United Nations would be unlikely to exceed $100 million. In fact, the Special Fund will probably receive $26 million in the current year which, with the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme of $32 million, makes a total of $58 million.

Mr. Noel-Baker

But was it not the intention of the Assembly that the joint fund for technical assistance, and the Special Fund, should reach 100 million dollars, and that it was hoped and expected that members would contribute in accordance with their contributions to the United Nations budget, which would have meant 8 per cent. from us instead of the miserable 3 per cent. we have given?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

No. I think that what the General Assembly had in mind was that the assistance given under both these budgets should, in time, reach a figure of 100 million dollars, but if we are taking the whole figure together, the right hon. Gentleman would, of course, have to take into account the 2¼ million dollars which we paid to the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is it not the fact that the resources of the United Kingdom are limited, and that it is the first duty of Her Majesty's Government' to try to satisfy the considerable needs of other Commonwealth countries for technical assistance?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think that that is perfectly true. I would like to add that it might be as well if, occasionally, the right hon. Gentleman put down a Question that would show that in respect of the Arab refugees we pay something over 16 per cent. of the budget.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Nobody has ever denied that we have a very special responsibility in respect of the Arab refugees, but is it not unfortunate that our joint contribution to these two funds amounts to 3 per cent. of the total; and that, as we fall short by 5 million dollars, a large American contribution will not be made, as it was offered on a matching basis?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I should like to look into that but, in fact, our contribution to the Expanded Assistance Programme is 8 per cent.