§ 8. Mr. Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a White Paper periodically to inform hon. Members of decisions taken at the United Nations, with explanations of votes cast by the United Kingdom.
Commander NobleA White Paper about the current Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations will be issued in the usual way as soon as possible after the Session is over.
§ Mr. RoyleWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman see that what takes place in the United Nations in our name is available more easily and more conveniently to hon. Members than has been the case hitherto?
Commander NobleI do not know whether the hon. Member is aware that United Nations documents usually arrive in London two or three days after they are issued in New York. They are the working papers of the General Assembly. They include verbatim records of all the speeches in the Plenary Sessions of the Assembly and in the Political Committee. They also include summary records of speeches in the other six committees, including explanations of votes. They give the texts of resolutions and details of voting. I think that the information is available in the House a fairly short time after the events have happened.
§ Mr. RoyleI am aware of that, but is it not desirable that these things should be made much more conveniently available to hon. Members, rather than hon. Members having to wade through all the documents? Is he aware that a White Paper at our disposal in the Vote Office would help very much?