HC Deb 29 July 1963 vol 682 cc35-8
Mr. Gordon Walker

(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal the amount and value of aid sent by Her Majesty's Government to relieve the victims of the disaster at Skopje.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Edward Heath)

Her Majesty's Government have learnt with deep regret of the sad loss of life and the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Skopje on 26th July.

Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Belgrade has been instructed to offer £10,000 to help with immediate relief work. He is also being instructed to send a full report on the situation as soon as possible. Her Majesty's Government will give sympathetic consideration to the possibility of affording further help as soon as the full Yugoslav needs can be assessed.

Mr. Gordon Walker

May I associate my right hon. and hon. Friends with the expression of regret at the terrible disaster which has struck Yugoslavia?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he thinks that this first aid of £10,000 is really adequate in the light of what the United States and other counries have done, and whether it is really right to wait to see what the full needs are? It is perfectly clear that the Yugoslavs will need enormous help to overcome their difficulties. Would not the Government at least commit themselves to going, say, £1 for £1 to match the rather considerable sums which are already being privately raised in this country?

Mr. Heath

I think that we must have an opportunity to assess the full nature of the damage. Obviously, great damage has been done. I understand that the voluntary societies have contributed at the moment about £11,000. It has either been sent, or is on the point of being sent, to Yugoslavia. So the Government, at the moment, are making a roughly comparable arrangement of £10,000. I do not think that I could commit the Government further at this stage.

As far as material needs are concerned, I understand that the Yugoslav Red Cross believes that it can meet the need for blankets, and so on, either from within, or from countries adjacent to, Yugoslavia more quickly at the moment. We have just had a further request to the British Red Cross, through the Yugoslav Red Cross, for a consignment of baby food. We understand that War on Want has available 2 tons and has asked for assistance in flying this out to Yugoslavia, together with about 7 cwt. of blankets. We are now trying to arrange that.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that back bench Members would also like to be associated with the expression of sympathy for all those who have been bereaved or injured in this terrible disaster? But is he aware that the small sum which has so far been made available could be considered as paltry against the magnitude of the disaster? Would he consider sending immediate aid in personnel and in kind, following the example of the United States?

Mr. Heath

I have just said that the Yugoslav Red Cross has informed us, through the International Red Cross, that it believes that the requirements in material and personnel can be met from within, or from countries adjacent to, Yugoslavia.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Could not the right hon. Gentleman be a little more forthcoming? The impression is that we are being niggling over this. There is very great need. The right hon. Gentleman says that he will try to fly out these things. After all, we have Transport Command at our disposal. Why does not he just say that it has already been flown out or will be forthwith flown out?

Mr. Heath

We are arranging this with the Royal Air Force——

Mr. Gordon Walker

Then say so.

Mr. Heath

—and shall see that these items are flown out.

So far as our other response is concerned, I have said that the Government will give favourable consideration as soon as the full requirements are made known. This is a commitment by Her Majesty's Government which is not in the least niggling. We have accepted it as being one to help the Yugoslav nation in this time of difficulty.

Mr. Gower

While accepting what my right hon. Friend has said, may I ask him whether there may not be a case in circumstances like this for being perhaps over-generous with our aid; in other words, for coming forward and being perhaps embarrassing, even offering them aid which they do not really need? These are circumstances which cannot be measured.

Mr. Heath

I think that my hon. Friend will recognise that we are being generous in saying that we will, as soon as the situation is fully known, consider what can be done. We have had previous experience of disasters of this kind in which the final amount required is very large and arrangements have to be made of suitable kinds. This is what we have to consider when the full damage is known.

Mr. Bowen

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his attitude has created the impression that we are being most parsimonious over assistance in this case? Will he keep under constant review both the form and the extent of the assistance which we render in connection with this disaster? Will he, in particular, tell us whether anything has been done on the medical side?

Mr. Heath

I have already assured the House that we shall keep this matter in the forefront of our minds. We have asked the Chargé d'Affaires for a report as soon as it is possible for him to give us one—it is difficult, in the present circumstances, for him to give us the full details—and we shall then be able to consider in what further ways we can help.

As to medical services, I have told the House that the Yugoslav Red Cross has informed us through the International Red Cross that it believes that the needs in material and personnel can best be met from within, or from the countries adjacent to. Yugoslavia, and we have accepted its advice about this.

Mr. John Hall

Is it not a fact that, among the other aid that we offered, we offered the services of a number of doctors and that this help has been refused because, as my right hon. Friend said, the Yugoslav Government believe that they have adequate resources already?

Mr. Heath

I believe that that is so. There have also been offers of further blankets and first-aid kits, which have not been required.

Mr. Bellenger

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall that in the earlier part of the century, when there was a severe earthquake disaster in that area, the British Navy went in straight away and helped with manpower? The Americans have sent a general hospital. Apart from the money which we shall subscribe later, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the immediate necessity is to dig out people who are buried and to help in that practical way?

Mr. Heath

It is obvious that these are some of the requirements. The Americans had a field hospital available which they were able to fly in straight away. As I have already told the House several times, we have been informed that material and personnel needs are being met from other sources, adjacent to Yugoslavia. Ws have been asked for this particular consignment to be flown out, and that we are arranging as best we can.

The other requirements are financial. We have instructed the Chargé d'Affaires to make a first offer of £10,000. We can consider what further is required and what more we can do to help when we have a fuller report.