MR CORMACK (Cannock, C) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance had been and was being given by HM Government to the refugees from East Pakistan.

SIR ALEC DOUGLAS-HOME—I have repeatedly expressed the view that the responsibility for a political settlement in East Pakistan lies with the Pakistan Government and people. The humanitarian aspects are indeed a matter of international concern, and I am pleased to be able to announce that in response to U Thant's recent appeals, and to Prince Sadruddin Khan's appeal of October 11, HM Government are making available a further £7.5m for relief among the refugees in India and a further £1m for relief in East Pakistan.

This brings our total contributions to over £14,750.000 for relief among the refugees, and £2m for relief in East Pakistan. I hope that other nations will also respond generously to U Thant’s appeals. (Cheers.)

MR PRENTICE (East Ham. North, Lab)—Would the Foreign Secretary agree with the estimate that the cost of keeping the refugees alive is now running at something over £1m a day and the cost of the last six months is more than twice as much as all the aid received from the whole world.

Even larger figures than this are going to be required in the near future from Britain and other countries.

SIR A. DOUGLAS-HOME-We shall do what we can but I think other nations might match our effort.

MR BRAINE (South-East Essex, C)—It is one thing to pledge help in money or kind—in this the British Government have an impeccable record—and another to ensure that relief actually reaches the needy and the suffering.

Is the Foreign Secretary satisfied that the United Nations relief programme will ensure distribution to the needy in East Pakistan and that if there is serious doubt on this what will be done about it?

SIR A. DOUGLAS-HOME—I raised this matter with the Secretary General of the United Nations. I think the food reserves are quite good. It is a matter of communications and particularly of getting food supplies to certain areas up-country.

The United Nations is in these areas suggesting how these things should be done. We and other countries are supplying river transport so one hopes the situation will not deteriorate too badly in the near future.

MR HEALEY (Leeds, East, Lab)—All of us on all sides would wish to congratulate the Government on the example they have set to other Governments in the generosity of the aid offered.

Would the Foreign Secretary agree that more than ever there is little chance of distributing the aid or of reducing the burden falling on all concerned unless there is much more rapid progress towards a political solution which is satisfactory to the people of East Pakistan.

Can he tell us something about the growing reports of an escalation both of words and troop movements by the Governments of India and Pakistan.

Has he considered raising this in the Security Council as a threat to peace because it is impossible to resist the impression that when the monsoon ends the sub-continent may drift into a war whose boundaries may not be the boundaries of the sub-continent ?

SIR A. DOUGLAS-HOME—We would all like to see the most rapid progress towards a political settlement acceptable to east and west Pakistan which is the aim of the whole operation. The sooner that happens the better.

We have limited influence there although we can give our advice behind the scenes.

As for the frontier and troop movements, the Pakistanis have, in the last two days, offered to withdraw their troops 10 kilometres or more from the frontier. The Indian response has not yet been received and it does not look as if it is going to be favourable.

We will do everything we conceivably can to assist towards the settlement but this must essentially be done between Pakistan and India.

MR HEALEY—There are reports today that the Soviet Government is attempting to establish itself as a mediator between the Indian and Pakistan Governments. While any success in this effort would be welcomed by the whole world, is this not essentially the sort of problem for which the United Nations was set up.

Is it not a severe criticism of the United Nations in its present form that a patent threat to peace is not being dealt with by the organization?

Mrs Gandhi’s visit

SIR A. DOUGLAS-HOME— Neither the Pakistan Government nor the Indian Government will admit there was a threat to peace involved by either of them. Therefore it Is difficult for any other government to bring this to the United Nations on those grounds.

This is a situation we can only carefully watch. We have been able to be in communication with the President of Pakistan and Mrs Gandhi is coming here. We had better wait for that.

SIR FREDERIC BENNETT (Torquay, C)—In regard to a political settlement, the recent steps taken by the President of Pakistan in the sense of a general amnesty and the replacement of a military ruler by a civilian one have made an initial valuable contribution.

If that many people are interested that food should reach the interior of Pakistan, the blowing up of bridges and the placing of limpet bombs on food ships is not making the best contribution.

SIR A. DOUGLAS-HOME—Sabotage is lamentable and it is interfering with the United Nations effort for relief. The president of Pakistan has slowly begun the process of civilianization of the government and administration of East Pakistan but we cannot judge whether this is going to be acceptable to the people of East Pakistan from here. The proof must be on the ground.