HL Deb 24 October 1972 vol 335 cc2047-9
LORD BROCKWAY

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 seek to initiate a debate on the subject of world poverty at the General Assembly of the United Nations.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

No, my Lords. World poverty is already due to be considered under many of the items on the agenda. These include the report of the Economic and Social Council (which adopted a resolution on the subject last July); the work of the United Nations Development Programme; and the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister, may I ask him whether he does not agree with the Guardian, which regards this as the world's worst problem? Is it not the case that the gulf in the relationship between the peoples of the developing countries and of the developed countries is growing? Has his attention been drawn to the F.A.O.'s statement that between 300 million and 500 million people are now living undernourished; and is it not desirable that the United Nations should give priority to this question?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I think ][ can agree with the noble Lord in so far as this is a desperate problem, and the Government are at one with the noble Lord in so regarding it. All I am saying is that it is something which is taking up a great deal of the time of the United Nations and, I think, the Second Committee. I think it would be difficult at this stage of the General Assembly's proceedings to get inscribed on their agenda a particular item such as the noble Lord is asking for in his Question. At the same time, I think he can rest assured that, as I have said in my substantive Answer, this subject will be discussed in the General Assembly in the various resolutions that come before them.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is it not the case that these are quite incidental and unco-ordinated resolutions? Has the noble Marquess's attention been drawn to the statement by Mr. Robert McNamara, the President of the World Bank, warning that the target for aid of 0.7 per cent. of G.N.P. by 1975 will not be reached? Could the noble Marquess say whether it is true, as reported in The Times, that at the European Summit Meeting Britain took the view that the Dutch endorsement of 0.7 per cent. was unrealistic?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I do not think I could answer that part of the noble Lord's question without notice. What I am trying to convey to the House is that Her Majesty's Government are very well seized of this problem, and we also think that the United Nations are. The important point really is not to talk about it so much but to try to get something done about it.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, since, at the Summit Meeting of the European Community, we were the only nation among the Nine who did not subscribe to the Pearson 0.7 per cent. target, would it not be a good idea for Her Majesty's Government for once to initiate something instead of simply tagging along on the Second Committee?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I am certain that the Government will listen to what the noble Baroness has said: but, as I say, this problem is one which we are taking very seriously and which we naturally want to play our part in solving.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, is it not time that we were a little realistic about the United Nations? Can the noble Marquess point to any evidence which would indicate the abolition of poverty, or a reduction of poverty, in any part of the world as a result of the events that have taken place in the United Nations?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, that really is why I am asking that we do not want to do too much talking; we want to get something done in practice.

LORD SHINWELL

Yes, my Lords, precisely. Will the noble Marquess tell us when they are going to get something done?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, the noble Lord will have to await events.