HL Deb 13 November 1989 vol 512 cc1079-81

2.45 p.m.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to ensure that the work of the United Nations Commission for Refugees to protect and support refugees will not be cut back by the present financial pressures.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Brabazon of Tara)

My Lords, we fully support the package of financial measures agreed at the October meeting of the executive committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including provision for a guaranteed level of income next year. We are playing our full part in the temporary working group of executive committee members established to make further recommendations on the UNHCR's financial situation. We hope these measures will establish a sound basis for the UNHCR's future activities, so as to avoid cutbacks in the vital tasks of protection and support of refugees.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, I am grateful for the Minister's Answer but I felt that it in no way reflected the true gravity of the situation. Is the Minister aware that there is a real danger of the UNHCR not being able to cope with the enormous rate of refugees —at present 14 million —on its reduced budget for next year? Is he aware that the vast majority of those refugees are in third world asylum countries which are little able to deal with an increased cost if the UNHCR programmes are cut?

Will the Minister give a commitment that Her Majesty's Government will give a lead in the pledging conference in New York next month substantially to increase their contribution to the UNHCR so that it can carry out its important work for these unfortunate people, most of whom are women and children?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I certainly do not deny the concern expressed by the noble Baroness. Her Majesty's Government will play a role in the financial package discussions and the working group towards the resolution of this problem. That is absolutely certain. This country's contribution this year has been the highest ever and certainly we are third in the world in terms of contributions after the commitments of the United States and Japan.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, I apologise for rising immediately after my noble friend on the Front Bench. I ask the noble Lord a question which is of considerable importance and interest to this House; namely, what representations have Her Majesty's Government made to the commission about the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong and what response has come from the commission?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, that is a slightly different question from the commission's financial situation, to which the Question on the Order Paper refers. However, the noble Lord will be aware that we are in touch with the UNHCR as regards the Vietnamese boat people. While it is looking at the problem of the refugees involved there, we would obviously like it to be more concerned about the non-refugees —the so-called economic refugees.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, will the noble Lord be so kind as to look at an article in this morning's Guardian by Mr. Edward Heath, the last Conservative Prime Minister —and I prefer to say "the last"? Is he aware that were he to do so he would see in the article —I shall not weary the House by trying to describe it —the bearing on the point raised by my noble friend on the Front Bench?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I have not yet read the article to which the noble Lord refers but I shall obviously try to find time to extend my reading to that newspaper and in particular to the article by that author.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, perhaps I may press the Minister on the point brought up by my noble friend Lord Cledwyn. Is he aware that UNHCR is totally opposed to the forced repatriation of the Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong? Can the Minister say how, in order to encourage a voluntary repatriation, Her Majesty's Government can give some form of economic and structural aid to Vietnam as has already been proposed to them by the British Refugee Council?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, aid to Vietnam is a very different question from the one on the Order Paper. I am well aware of the views of the British Refugee Council, having heard them at first hand from the noble Lord sitting next to the noble Baroness on the Front Bench opposite. We shall have an opportunity at Question Time tomorrow to discuss the situation in Hong Kong.