HL Deb 27 July 1965 vol 268 cc1297-8WA
LORD BARNBY

To ask Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in connection with the recent announcement of a United Kingdom special supplementary contribution to assist depleted United Nations funds, use was made of the common practice that special contributions be conditional on their being matched by a specified number of other equivalent contributions and in this case from among leading countries delinquent in their payments to the United Nations.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)

The answer is in the negative. As I made clear to the House in my Statement on June 21, our financial pledge to the United Nations is voluntary and unconditional. To have imposed a condition of the kind suggested in the noble Lord's Question could have prejudiced the success which we hope this initiative will have in restoring the solvency of the Organisation.

House adjourned at a quarter before eleven o'clock.