HL Deb 10 July 1967 vol 284 cc896-8

2.42 p.m.

BARONESS ASQUITH OF YARNBURY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken to increase international funds to meet the urgent and immediate needs of Arab refugees in occupied territory pending their settlement and rehabilitation.]

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the General Assembly of the United Nations has now appealed to all Governments, as well as organisations and individuals, to make special contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to enable that Agency to meet the urgent and immediate needs of the refugees. Her Majesty's Government endorse this appeal. As your Lordships will know, we ourselves have anticipated this appeal and have made a special contribution to UNRWA of half a million dollars, in addition to the 4½ million dollars we have already pledged as our contribution for this year.

BARONESS ASQUITH OF YARNBURY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask him whether any response has so far been made, apart from our contribution, to the international appeal, and, if so, from what quarters it has come?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, in addition to the half-million dollars which I mentioned, as the House knows, Her Majesty's Government have given £500,000 to Jordan, and various other voluntary bodies in the United Kingdom have raised another £300,000. So far as other countries are concerned, there have been special contributions, both in cash and in kind, from a number of countries, including the United States of America, Sweden, Canada, Japan and the Congo. These contributions, with our own, amount to something of the order of 5½ to 6 million dollars.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, will the noble Lord say whether France has made any contribution?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we have no record of any contribution from France, either directly or through the International Red Cross. There are a number of other countries, in addition to those I have mentioned, which have provided cash through the International Red Cross, including Greece and Bulgaria.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, could the noble Lord say what is the total estimated amount which is required urgently for immediate relief? While we thank the Government for all they are doing, there are many of us who feel that not enough is being done all round by countries other than the United Kingdom.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I cannot at the moment give a specific answer to the first part of the noble Lord's question. I think it would be almost impossible to estimate the total need. The need is obviously great, and the Government have fully endorsed the United Nations' appeal. We very much hope that many other countries in the world will follow our example, and that of others, in making contributions to this end.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, I think I am right in saying that the estimate made about three weeks ago was a figure of something like £10 million. Towards that, 5½ million dollars is not sufficient.

LORD CHALFONT

No, my Lords; I entirely agree that 5½ million dollars towards a sum like that is a comparatively small contribution. But I would point out that by the end of this year Her Majesty's Government will have contributed more than 100 million dollars to this Agency; and that compares very well with the contributions elsewhere in the world. We shall do all we can to help this cause and we hope that other countries will as well.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, in addition to financial help, have the United Nations Agencies been instructed to encourage the new refugees to return to their homes?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the countries mainly concerned have been asked and encouraged to make sure that those refugees who have fled return to their homes and that the flow of refugees is stopped, and we will do all we can, through the United Nations, to see that this process continues. My noble friend will know that my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has in another place called for the refugee problem to be dealt with in a much bigger and fundamental way. I am sure your Lordships will agree that this is the right approach, and we very much hope that everybody concerned will look for a more permanent and imaginative solution to this problem.

BARONESS HYLTON-FOSTER

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that at the time when we recently debated the refugee problem France and the U.S.S.R. had contributed to the International Committee of the Red Cross?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I was not aware of that, and I am grateful to the noble Lady for mentioning it.

LORD ILFORD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether any steps are being taken at present to assist these refugees in formulating and presenting their claims for compensation against the Egyptian Government?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am not aware that any formal, organised assistance is being given in this respect, but I will certainly inquire into that.

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