HC Deb 17 June 1966 vol 729 cc353-4W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made recently in the establishment of a permanent United Nations peacekeeping force.

Mrs. White

There has been no recent progress towards the establishment of a permanent United Nations Peacekeeping Force. Her Majesty's Government support the creation of such a force as an ultimate goal. It is an essential element in the West's disarmament plans. However, we must recognise that the creation of a permanent force is impracticable in present circumstances since the political and financial considerations involved rule out, for the moment, any possibility of international agreement upon it. This N iew is shared by the Secretary-General himself.

In these circumstances, it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to give maximum support to the peacekeeping activities of the United Nations. This sup

MERCHANT NAVY-NATIONAL STANDARD RATES OF PAY
Date Basic Monthly Rates (with free food) Seafarers' War Risk Money Maximum Efficient Service Pay Able Seamen's Certificate
Able Seamen Assistant Stewards
per month per month per month
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
At
1st January, 1945 14 0 0 13 0 0 10 0 0
1st April, 1947 20 0 0 19 0 0 4 0 0
1st March, 1951 22 0 0 21 0 0 4 0 0
28th January, 1952 24 0 0 23 0 0 4 0 0
25th January, 1954 25 10 0 24 10 0 4 0 0
30th May, 1955 27 10 0 26 10 0 4 0 0 10 0
14th May, 1956 29 10 0 28 10 0 4 0 0 10 0
22nd July, 1957 31 10 0 30 10 0 4 5 0 10 0
10th November, 1958 33 5 0 32 5 0 4 5 0 10 0
29th August, 1960 35 15 0 34 15 0 4 5 0 10 0
12th June, 1961 35 15 0 34 15 0 4 10 0 1 0 0
12th September, 1962 37 2 10 36 3 10 4 10 0 1 0 0
24th February, 1964 39 10 6 38 11 5 4 10 0 1 0 0
29th March, 1965 40 13 6 39 14 3 5 10 0 1 0 0

port in practical terms consists of our contributions towards the cost of the existing peacekeeping operations, including substantial voluntary contributions in cash and in units of our Armed Forces to the United Nations Force in Cyprus, and an offer to provide logistic backing for up to six battalions in future peacekeeping operations. We welcome the practice of certain other governments in maintaining similar stand-by forces and hope that this practice will be increasingly followed as a step towards the eventual formation of a permanent United Nations force.