GULF CRISIS FINANCIAL CO-ORDINATION GROUP

HL Deb 14 February 1991 vol 526 cc12-3WA

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now seek to place the Gulf Crisis Financial Co-ordination Group within the ambit of the United Nations instead of the United States Treasury, whose prime responsibility must be to the United States.

The Earl of Caithness

The Gulf Crisis Financial Co-ordination Group was established at the initiative of the United States Government to monitor the flow of economic assistance to countries most directly affected by the Gulf crisis, primarily Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. The international financial institutions, which are part of the United Nations family, are represented on the group. No useful purpose would be served by placing the group under United Nations auspices.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether money from the Gulf Crisis Financial Co-ordination Group is being passed to the poor countries whose expatriate workers in Kuwait contributed substantially to their foreign exchange.

The Earl of Caithness

The Gulf Crisis Financial Co-ordination Group was established to monitor the flow of economic assistance to countries most directly affected by the Gulf crisis, primarily Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. It is, of course, for donors to decide where their aid should go. Of the $14.1 billion so far pledged by members of the group, $3.1 billion has been committed to countries other than the three mentioned.