HC Deb 17 December 1953 vol 522 cc109-10W
Mr. F. M. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now withdraw the condition attached to the further contribution of £50,000 offered by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations Expanded Technical Assistance Programme for the coming year.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have decided to make this further pledge of £50,000 immediately as, if made before 31st December, it will attract large matching contributions which will not be payable after the end of the year. It remains the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the target of $25,000,000 mentioned in the reply to the hon. Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle) on 11th November will be reached later.

Mr. Cole

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the contribution of Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations Technical Assistance Programme for 1954, as compared with the contribution made for 1953.

Mr. Nutting

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 18th November. My right hon. Friend has now withdrawn the condition attached to the further contribution of £50,000 referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle) on 11th November. Her Majesty's Government's proposed contribution of £650,000 for the coming year thus represents an increase of 30 per cent. over last year.