Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Inter-Parliamentary Union (Overseas Delegations) (Hansard, 27 June 1961)

§ 2. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision he has reached regarding increases in the Exchequer grants to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to enable them to increase the number of overseas delegations.

§ Sir E. Boyle
As my right hon. and learned Friend told the House when the right hon. Gentleman raised this matter on 8th June, he is prepared to examine any specific proposal.

§ Mr. Shinwell
What is meant by examining "any specific proposal?" If I suggest to the Financial Secretary that his right hon. and learned Friend consults the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union and asks them what amount of money is required, will the hon. Gentleman agree?

§ Sir E. Boyle
I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will consider that point. Government support for overseas visits made by Members of this House under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is obviously implicit in the annual grants that they have made to these organisations for many years. At the moment no formal approach has been made to my right hon. and learned Friend, so I cannot add to the Answer he gave when the right hon. Gentleman last raised this Question.

Mr. H. Wilson
Is the Financial Secretary aware that these sums are totally inadequate? Is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerned about the grave damage which could result to Parliament from the fact that hon. Members who ought to travel about the world, particularly in areas for which the House is responsible, are dependent upon public relations firms and other organisations financing their trips? Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer look at it again in the light of these new developments?

§ Sir E. Boyle
My right hon. and learned Friend made clear the importance he attached to this question. I do not agree that the grants we make are derisory or inadequate. The grant in aid to the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is £11,500. In addition, the Group receives assistance from the Government Hospitality Fund for its home entertaining to the value of about £4,000 to £5,000. The United Kingdom grant in aid to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is over £27,000. I do not agree that these are derisory grants. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that this is an important matter, and I think that my right hon. and learned Friend made that quite clear when he last answered questions.

Mr. H. Wilson
How do the sums of £11,500 and over £27,000 compare with the funds made available by Voice and Vision, on the one hand, and by agencies representing the Spanish Government, on the other? Which is the larger?

§ Sir E. Boyle
I obviously cannot make that comparison without notice. I was merely pointing out that I do not consider that the Government grants are derisory. Also, as hon. Members can see from the Estimates, a special additional grant of £96,000 is being paid to the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association this year to assist with the cost of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which is to be held in London this autumn. Obviously these are important matters, but I do not think that I can add more today.