HC Deb 27 July 1964 vol 699 cc979-80
11. Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution has been pledged by Her Majesty's Government to the proposed United Nations Training and Research Institute; whether the contribution from this country will be on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. P. Thomas

Subject to certain conditions, Her Majesty's Government have pledged to the proposed Institute a sum of $500,000 to cover the first five or six years of the Institute's operations. This pledge is the largest so far made by any Government and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has acknowledged it gratefully.

Mr. Prentice

While welcoming that statement, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a departure from previous Government decisions not to contribute to endowment funds of this kind? If this new policy is to become the rule, would the Government reconsider their refusal to contribute to the endowment fund of the Institute of Labour Studies in Geneva? Will the right hon. Gentleman discuss that with the Minister of Labour in view of the fact that 43 countries have contributed to that fund but so far we have refused to do so?

Mr. Thomas

I do not think that it is a departure from previous policy. It is a continuation of our policy to support as best we can, as indeed we do, the various activities of the United Nations.