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f)
(ii)
(iii)
The Board's report refers (paragraph 22) to the IP recy scheme. No record has been issued since 1972, but administrative expenses of almost $100,000 are incurred. Are there plans for a further release, and have alternative methods such as consultancy arrangements been explored as a means of reducing continuing administrative overheads?
Paragraph 51 of the report notes that the Office Procedure Manual has still not issued. In view of the importance of planning, execution and monitoring procedures we would urge its completion without delay.
Item 6: UNHCR Assistance Activities This includes UNHCR annual assistance activities in 1975 and 76 and proposed voluntary funds programme and budget for 1977; resettlement activities; special operations.
The delegation should congratulate the High Commissioner on the progress he has made in 1975 and 1976 and may agree the proposed upward revision of the 1977 Annual Programme to US$16,663,000. We note that the actual increase is 8% and take the point that this figure is well below the rate of inflation in areas where UNHCR assistance programmes are being carried out.
But we should express the hope that the Office makes every effort to keep the programme within this amount. The delegation may accept the summary of proposals requiring the formal approval of the Executive Committee and listed in Schedule B (page XXI) of A/AC.96/526.
with regard to the High Commissioner's appeal to governments at the end of June for a special additional contribution towards a revised 1976 programme, three reasons were put forward for the revised target:
a)
b)
c)
additional net financial requirements of $1.1 m. to meet several new refugee situations unforeseen when the 1976 programme was approved;
a shortfall in anticipated income because "some major donors have not yet increased their contributions in the manner indicated when the 1976 programme was being drawn up"; and
currency fluctuations have reduced the dollar value of some pledges.
HMG is unable to respond to this appeal. Firstly, UNHCR's actual programme always seems to fall well short of its "target" figure and. because of delays in project implementation etc, income always exceeds expenditure. Secondly, the important question is the status of government contributions. We are puzzled by the argument in b) above. Finally, as to currency fluctuations having educed the dollar value of some pledges (ours in particular), it may be worth noting that this effect was more than offset by appreciation in the value of other pledges. The delegation may thank our Dutch colleagues for their recent generous additional contribution of $2 million which should cover the 1976 financing gap.
The streamlining of this document this year to combine annual assistance activities and special operations is acceptable to us.
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