§ Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution he proposes to make to the 22 million dollars needed to maintain the 50,000 Hungarian refugees until the end of the 89W year in Austria and Yugoslavia; and what appeals he has received from those Governments for financial help.
§ Mr. Ian Harvey:On 12th March, the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Refugees addressed a joint appeal to Her Majesty's Government for further financial assistance for Hungarian refugees in Austria and Yugoslavia. Her Majesty's Government have given this appeal their most careful consideration but have been obliged to take into account the fact that they have already assumed financial commitments totalling £338,000 in respect of refugees from Hungary, and also the fact that this sum may be greatly exceeded when voluntary funds are no longer available to provide for the welfare of the 21,000 Hungarians admitted to the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government have therefore concluded, with great regret, that they cannot provide any further assistance for Hungarian refugees outside the United Kingdom. This decision is being notified to the Secretary-General and to the High Commissioner for Refugees.