Hungarian and British Refugees

HC Deb 31 January 1957 vol 563 cc213-4W

80. Major Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the amount of Government grant made, up to date, to aid the Hungarian refugees and to assist British subjects who have been expelled from Egypt, respectively.

Mr. R. A. Butler

£10,000 has been paid to the British Council for Aid to Refugees as a grant in aid of administrative expenses incurred in connection with the re-settlement of Hungarian refugees in this country. As the Council, at the request of the Government, have undertaken to be responsible for a much higher number of refugees than when the grant of £10,000 was announced, it is proposed to increase the grant in aid up to £30,000 for the current financial year and to make no charge to the Council for operational help in kind (estimated at £200,000) given by Government Departments to the Council.

The cost falling on Her Majesty's Government for providing for British subjects from Egypt is estimated to be £475,000 in the current financial year, including the grant of £100,000 announced to the House on 6th December (of which £20,000 has already been paid to the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society). A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament seeking approval to this expenditure.

83. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the arrangements made to assist British subjects expelled from Egypt.

Mr. R. A. Butler

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hopes to make a statement at an early date.

86. Mr. Gibson-Watt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to inform Hungarian refugees of what is going on in the world, thereby reducing the dangers of rumour and misunderstanding that exist for people isolated from the rest of the community by language and life in camp.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I am glad to be able to tell the House that the first issue of a weekly news bulletin in the Hungarian language will be distributed in the hostels and camps tomorrow. I am placing a copy in the Library, with an English translation of its contents.