HC Deb 11 February 1970 vol 795 cc360-1W
Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of those members of the United Nations which are now two years or more in arrears on the payment of their financial contributions to the general budget and to the other expenses of the organisation such as the cost of the Congo operations, respectively.

Mr. Luard

As at 9th February, 1970, the following nine members were two years or more in arrears with their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations in terms of Article 19 of the Charter:

  • Burundi.
  • Dahomey.
  • Haiti.
  • Nicaragua.
  • Ecuador.
  • Paraguay.
  • Bolivia.
  • Dominican Republic.
  • Yemen.
Of these members Burundi and Nicaragua have intimated that they are arranging further payments.

Unpaid contributions for the United Nations Expeditionary Forces and the Congo ad hoc Account amount to $50,510,286 and $82,102,486 respectively. There was a consensus in the General Assembly in September, 1965, that the financial difficulties arising from the refusal of some countries to meet their obligations to contribute towards these peacekeeping activities should be met by voluntary contributions and that Article 19 would not be applied in these cases.

Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

£ Percentage of total budget
United Nations Regular Budget 3,463,682 6.62
Special Accounts:
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) 1,875,000 10.16
World Food Programme 2,060,000(a) —
Cyprus Operation (UNFICYP):
Voluntary Fund 1,250,000(b) —
United Kingdom contingent 588,000 —
Consolidated Educational and Training Programme for South Africa 50,000 20.00
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 150,000 6.34
International Atomic Energy Agency:
Regular budget 265,484 6.02
Operational budget (voluntary fund) 46,037 —
United Nations Development Programme 5,900,000 7.15
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 500,000 4.00
United Nations Water Desalination Programme 45.250(c) —
United Nations Institute for Training and Research 42,000 7.46
Specialised Agencies:
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 1,057,000 9.25
Food and Agricultural Organisation Voluntary Funds 43,500 —
World Health Organisation (WHO) 1,558,263 5.95
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 926,140 6.23
International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome 9,325 18.00
International Labour Organisation (ILO) 1,013,500 9.14
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) 235,302(d) 8.32
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) 135,203 6.34
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) 73,644 6.02
Voluntary Assistance Programme (World Weather Watch) 30,000 —
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) 48,630 10.31
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation Headquarters 30,800 80.00
Universal Postal Union (UPU) 18,547 2.65
International Development Association (IDA) 20,158,000(e)
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 656,000(f) —
International Finance Corporation —(f) —
Total 42,229,307

Notes:

(a) This figure includes the sum of £1,440,000, representing part of the United Kingdom subvention under the Rome Food Aid Convention.

(b) This figure represents a firm United Kingdom pledge which has largely been met by logistical support to the United Nations Forces drawn from countries other than the United Kingdom. The balance will be settled in cash. The United Kingdom contribution represents rather more than 22 per cent. of the total of voluntary contributions.

(c) This figure represents a contribution of £15,000 plus the services of consultants.

(d) This figure includes a contribution of £8,451 towards the European Civil Aviation Conference.

(e) This figure represents the drawings in 1968 on the United Kingdom contributions.

(f) The United Kingdom contributed to the capital stock of IBRD and IFC when these organisations were established; no United Kingdom contribution was made to the IFC in 1969. Our contribution to the IBRD in 1969 was required to maintain the value of our original contribution.