§ 3.5 p.m.
§ Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether, now that the USSR is to refer draft legislation on its economic reforms to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, they will rejoin that institute.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, we are currently reviewing the question of United Kingdom funding of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, good. Do the Government agree that President Reagan's action in walking out of IIASA in the days of his belief in the evil empire was probably unhelpful to the world? Is not the Soviet action in apparently deciding to lay before IIASA every so often the draft of all legislation affecting its economic reforms a most remarkable action which shows willingness to depend upon the collective goodwill of Western and world academics? Do the Government agree that it would be very much in this country's interests if we could be part of that collective goodwill?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, as I have said, we are reviewing the situation at the moment. We withdrew our funds in 1982 because the scientific community doubted the value of the institute's work. The strength of the scientific case will be the deciding factor in our decision whether to renew funding, which we hope to take later this year.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the creation of stable economies in the countries of Eastern Europe, especially the Soviet Union, is of the first importance in the interests of world peace and other matters at the present time? Does he agree that in those circumstances it is the duty of Her Majesty's Government to rejoin and reactivate the international institute with a view to making certain 1367 that when the economic problems of the Soviet Union and those other countries are brought to the institute they are discussed in a co-operative and friendly way?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I agree with the first part of the noble Lord's question that stable economic conditions for the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc are important in terms of world peace, especially in the Soviet Union. We have to decide whether rejoining the institute is the best way forward. That is why we are seeking from Vienna further information on the institute's programmes and are consulting government departments and research bodies.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, the Minister's reply was vague and unsatisfactory. Her Majesty's Government ceased to take an interest in the international institute. Given his constructive reaction to my suggestion that economic stability in Eastern Europe is of the first importance, cannot Her Majesty's Government take a more positive step towards co-operation in the institute?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I should have thought that we were being positive by reviewing whether to rejoin the institute. We have been out of it since 1982 for good reasons. We are now looking into whether we should rejoin.
§ Lord Harmar-NichollsMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that stability in Eastern Europe and whether we rejoin the international institute do not necessarily run together? If we left the institute because we did not think its contribution was worthy of the cost and our attendance, we should not think of rejoining until we are satisfied that its ability has improved to a satisfactory level.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend. That is the point that I was trying to make to the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn.