§ 25. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the situation in Hungary in the light of British relief.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI regret to inform the House that the situation in Hungary is still grave. The Soviet armed forces continue to repress and intimidate the people; the House will have heard the shocking news of the abduction of Mr. Nagy. The Kadar government are still pouring out a mixture of promises and threats in an effort to win the confidence of the Hungarian people, but the widespread strike of Hungarian workers goes on.
All this is causing growing misery and distress amongst the Hungarian people, and thousands of them continue to cross the border into Austria in spite of attempts by Soviet forces to stop them. Her Majesty's Government have, as my hon. Friend stated in a Written Answer on 21st November, made contributions to various relief funds totalling £110,000. In addition over £895,000 has been contributed by the public.
I am glad to say that a steady stream of supplies is now going into Hungary through the International Red Cross, but 2W the Hungarian and Soviet authorities persist in their refusal to allow United Nations observers to enter the country.
§ 26. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the substantial response by the public to appeals for voluntary subscriptions to relieve distress in Hungary, what further proposals Her Majesty's Government have to augment their contribution.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend to a Question by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 21st November.