HC Deb 21 June 1971 vol 819 cc978-9
8. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government's representative at the annual assembly of the World Health Organisation at Geneva in May, 1971, did not vote against a resolution proposed by Afghanistan,inter alia, alleging that Israel had prevented the Red Cross from distributing supplies to the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai area and Jordan.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Joseph Godber)

The paragraphs to which the hon. Member's Question refer were part of a long draft resolution on health assistance to refugees in the Middle East. It was not possible on this occasion to vote on individual paragraphs of the resolution, which differed widely in content, and the delegation was, therefore, instructed to abstain on the resolution as a whole.

Mr. Davis

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 19th May the International Committee of the Red Cross made a statement in which it said that it was untrue that it had been barred from distribution work by the Israeli Government? Was not the resolution, therefore, based on a lie, and in these circumstances should not Her Majesty's Government have voted against it?

Mr. Godber

As I said, there were very different matters in the resolution, against some of which, I think, the hon. Gentleman would not have wished to vote; but it was difficult, because of the complicated nature of the resolution, and I am glad that his Question has given me an opportunity to make clear that we deplore the use of these specialised agencies for this type of resolution. We should have voted against it if the item had stood on its own.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Could my right hon. Friend attempt to persuade the United Nations to alter its system so that resolutions are capable of amendment and are not composited like most Labour Party resolutions?

Mr. Godber

I should not wish to comment on the last part of what my hon. Friend said. As regards the earlier part, United Nations resolutions become extremely complicated, often as a result of a great deal of discussion behind the scenes, and I should be a brave man if I thought I could alter that system merely by a proposal to the United Nations.

Mr. Paget

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that United Nations resolutions, whether composited or not, are concerned no longer with fact but only with political colour?

Mr. Godber

I note the hon. and learned Gentleman's comments with interest, but I should not wish to carry that matter further.

Forward to