HC Deb 20 May 1953 vol 515 cc134-6W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken consequent upon the report of the British joint committee of inquiry into the settlement of Arab refugees in the Near East.

Mr. Nutting

There has been no British joint committee of inquiry into the settlement of the Arab refugees. In 1949, the United Nations sent an Economic Survey Mission to the Middle East under the Chairmanship of Mr. Gordon Clapp. Her Majesty's Government were represented on this Mission by Sir Desmond Morton. As a result of their report, the United Nations General Assembly set up the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which is now working on a three-year programme for the settlement of the refugees.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what addition by the United Kingdom has been made to the payments to the International Refugee Organisation which amounted to £21,715,086 up to September, 1951, besides an interest-free loan of £1 million to Jordan specifically for refugees and further payments of £1,100,000 and £1 million made to the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and the Relief and Works Agency, respectively.

Mr. Nutting

Total payments by the United Kingdom to the International Refugee Organisation amounted to £21,715,322. A further provision of £100,000 was made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 27th June, 1952. The total amount contributed by Her Majesty's Government for the relief of Palestine refugees is £1,100,000 to United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and £12 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total moneys paid either direct or through the United National Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East from British Treasury sources; and how much has been paid by other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries, respectively.

Mr. Nutting

Her Majesty's Government have contributed directly to the United Nations Agencies for the 'relief of Palestine refugees up to June, 1953, the following sums:

£1,100,000 to United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees.

£12,000,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (of which £8,500,000 has been paid so far).

In addition, in 1949 Her Majesty's Government made an interest free loan of £1,000,000 to Jordan specifically for refugees.

The Director's reports to the General Assembly show that, up to the end of the Agency's financial year 1951–52 (which ended on 30th June, 1952), other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries had contributed in cash to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency as follows:

$
U.S.A 57,450,000
France 4,857,143
Canada 894,313
Denmark 58,000
Netherlands 25,000
Luxembourg 2,000

The figures for any contributions made by other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries to the refugees other than through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency are not available.