§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that all overdue contributions are fully paid by United Nations members to the programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and that current contributions are promptly paid.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)The UNHCR is one of several members of the UN family which are funded almost entirely on the basis of voluntary contributions. As there are no assessed contributions, the issue of formally overdue contributions does not arise.
The UNHCR Executive Committee, which includes all 45 member states, agrees an annual budget which donors, mainly governmental, seek to provide. The UK is normally in the top four or five contributors, pays promptly and encourages others to do likewise. Last year we provided some £36 million as cash contributions.