HL Deb 23 July 1969 vol 304 cc977-8

2.52 p.m.

LORD BARNBY

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 whether they will state what is the budget of contributions under all heads to the United Nations for the current financial year, or other more convenient accounting period; and whether they will also furnish for similar accounting periods the actual amount levied in the two past accounting periods.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, our payment to the regular budget of the United Nations in the year 1969 was £3, 464, 000. Our payments in 1967 and 1968 were respectively £2, 708, 000 and £3, 096, 000.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether the Minister is aware from recently published figures (and I quote from Hansard) that the Fund was 60 million dollars in debt, and that over 40 countries were in arrears with their payments? Since the Fund must be assisted by us, would the noble Lord see his way to make available in the Library more up-to-date figures under those two headings? Could he also give some indication from whence funds are coming to finance so large an overdraft?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, perhaps I might make the point a little clearer. Do I understand the noble Lord to be asking for figures of arrears, or for more detailed figures of our contributions? I will willingly make both available.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I tried to make it clear under three headings: first, the total indebtedness of the Fund; second, the number of countries which are in arrears with their payments; and, third, since the amount of 60 million dollars was quoted, whence come; the finance for so large an overdraft?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the information in regard to the first two heads is easy to produce, and I wil1 see that it is produced. I shall have to look a little further into the implications of the third part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, but I will certainly make the information available.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his assurance.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, may I ask whether the countries which pay regularly have ever sat round a table to consider whether there could not be a rule which would bar those countries which do not attempt to pay at all?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the question of what action, if any, can be taken against defaulters and those who are in arrears with their payments to the United Nations has been considered at great length many times, but I am afraid that so far no satisfactory answer has been found to this problem.