HC Deb 25 November 1963 vol 685 cc6-8
15. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government supported a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly in favour of the contracting out by Governments from the world campaign against poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance, and in favour of leaving the campaign to the efforts of voluntary organisations.

31. Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government has proposed a resolution in the United Nations seeking to reduce governmental responsibility for the United Nations Development Decade.

Mr. P. Thomas

Her Majesty's Government have not proposed or supported any such resolution: nor has such a resolution been tabled at the General Assembly.

Mr. Hamilton

How can the right hon. Gentleman explain the correspondence and comments which have appeared in responsible organs of the Press to this effect? Will he now give a categorical assurance that, however admirable be the efforts of the voluntary organisations, he and the Government will undertake to play a very major part in the British contribution to this great effort?

Mr. P. Williams

On a point of order. Are hon. Members not responsible for the accuracy of their Questions and the information alleged to be contained therein, Mr. Speaker? If in an authoritative Front Bench statement it is shown that there is no accuracy in such a Question, should not the hon. Member responsible for it withdraw the Question?

Mr. Speaker

The second part is hypothetical. As to the first part of the point of order raised, it is true to this extent: that hon. Members take personal responsibility for any statement, fact or alleged fact in their Questions.

Mr. Thomas

I can assure the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton) that I do not accuse him of bad faith, because there is no doubt that other people have made the same mistake. I am afraid that both he and people who wrote to the newspapers have sadly misinterpreted the resolution which was put before the United Nations, which Her Majesty's Government have supported and which is supported by many other countries, such as Ghana, Liberia, Nepal, Argentina and Chile. In no way does it minimise the need for all Governments to play their full part in the United Nations Development Decade—and Her Majesty's Government intend to do so.

Mr. J. Hynd

Is it not the case that the resolution calls on voluntary organisations to make the greatest possible effort towards the Decade but, while suggesting that Governments should encourage the voluntary organisations, makes no refer- ence to any direct Government contribution? Why has the proposal that Governments themselves should lay down a target, as suggested in the United Nations Parliamentary Group, been dropped, and what has happened to the 1 percent, which we undertook to contribute at the beginning of the Decade?

Mr. Thomas

The hon. Member is mistaken and I suggest that he looks at the resolution. He says that it makes no reference to Government contributions, but he will see that it recalls previous resolutions which did. I also remind the hon. Gentleman of what my right hon. Friend said in answer to a Question on 20th November. He said: It is in no way intended to detract from the primary responsibility of Governments, but is intended to stimulate popular enthusiasm here and elsewhere for the Decade in the same way that it was aroused for the Freedom From Hunger Campaign and the World Refugee Years."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th November, 1963; Vol. 684. c. 106.]

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Since this resolution, which I hold in my hand, has been interpreted very widely as throwing responsibility on to the non-governmental organizations and since it makes no reference, except in recalling a resolution of 1961, to any further effort by Governments themselves, will Her Majesty's Government now put forward a resolution in the General Assembly calling for large-scale Government contributions?

Mr. Thomas

The British Government make a very large contribution, and we will certainly continue to do all we can. If this has been misinterpreted, it is not the fault of Her Majesty's Government, nor the fault of all the other countries, including African and Asian countries, which supported the resolution.