§ Lord BROCKWAY asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What were the conclusions of the conference at Khartoum on the maintenance of half a million refugees from neighbouring countries in the Sudan, and what contribution the United Kingdom made.
1436§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)The Conference approved a two-part resolution. Part A commends the policy of the Sudanese Government in coping with the influx of refugees and indicates a need for 280 million US dollars to finance necessary projects. Part B appeals to Governments and other organisations to contribute generously through a National Refugee Fund, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or by any other means; it also asks the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to draw international attention to the appeal. The conference secretariat will issue a summary of proceedings in due course, a copy of which I shall be pleased to forward to the noble Lord.
My honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development represented Her Majesty's Government at the conference and pledged a United Kingdom contribution of £850,000 for the financial year 1980–81. This was the largest contribution announced by any Government. The European Community have pledged a sum equivalent to £1.83 million, of which the United Kingdom's share is £342,000.
House adjourned at three minutes past ten o'clock.