§ 59. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much the United Kingdom contributes annually to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the 229W Near East; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of other members of the United Nations who contribute and the amounts annually contributed by each.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsSince 1950 when the Agency was established, Her Majesty's Government, up to and including the current year, contributed over $100,500,000: Her Majesty's Government's contributions in total exceed those of all other Governments put together apart from those of the United States Government.
For details of Her Majesty's Government's contribution for the current year, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell on the 23rd October. For details of the contributions made to the Agency since 1950 by other governments, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Annual Report of the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, reference number 13 (A/6713) a copy of which is in the Library of the House.—[Vol. 751, c. 361–2.]
§ 62. Mr. Waltersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the unsatisfactory state of affairs revealed in the latest report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, he will instruct the British representative of the United Nations to propose a reform of the financial basis of the Agency, so that it can in future depend on assessments levied on all members of the United Nations, instead of voluntary contributions from a small minority.
§ 68. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are his proposals for the reorganisation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsHer Majesty's Government have no proposals for reorganising the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. We have the greatest admiration for the resource and humanity with which the Commissioner-General and his staff have not only carried on their normal programme, but also extended their services on an emergency basis to those displaced as a result of the recent hostilities.
230WWe would welcome any way of increasing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's total income but doubt whether the reform of the financial basis of the Agency proposed by the hon. Member for Westbury would have that effect.