HC Deb 21 November 1956 vol 560 cc80-1W
Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the extent of the help, financial and otherwise, Her Majesty's Government have agreed to give to relieve suffering in Hungary.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I am glad to inform the House that Her Majesty's Government intend, subject to the approval of Parliament, to contribute forthwith £20,000 to the Austrian Government's refugee fund and £15,000 each to the two funds for Hungarian relief and refugees which have been set up by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Together with the £50,000 already granted to the Red Cross for aid to Hungary, and £10,000 to the British Council for Aid to Refugees, Her Majesty's Government have thus contributed £110,000 directly to Hungarian relief. In addition they have incurred transport charges of some £15,000 in connection with Red Cross relief.

The House may be interested to know-that the Lord Mayor's fund has now reached a total of £305,000. I understand that the Lord Mayor hopes to make an announcement very soon about the allocation of his fund.