§ Mr. Pounderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation No. 520 on the situation of the Refugees in the Middle East which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 2nd February, 1968; and if he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsHer Majesty's Government fully endorse preambular paragraphs 1 to 4 of the Resolution. With regard to the "symbolic" payment to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency recommended in paragraph 7(a), the hon. Member will be aware that Her Majesty's Government will this year again be making a substantial contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency funds despite the difficulties posed by devaluation.
Her Majesty's Government, while they are in sympathy with the aims outlined in paragraph 7(c) of the Resolution, do not believe that it would be appropriate to urge specific proposals of this kind while Mr. Jarring is engaged in his current efforts to secure a political settlement in the Middle East, on which the effective exploitation of the development possibilities of the region must depend.