§ 3.15 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ How many multinational summit meetings involving the United Kingdom were held during 1972 and how many are due to take place during 1992.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, in 1972 there were three multinational summit meetings involving the United Kingdom and five are scheduled this year.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for her reply. Does the increase mean more and better understandings and decisions between heads of government? While my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and his predecessor, my noble friend Lady Thatcher, should be congratulated on their stamina, are even more summit meetings likely to take place in future years, making further heavy demands on heads of government?
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his question. I believe that there is now a better understanding. I understand that the number of summits has varied between one in 1973 and as many as seven in 1989 and 1990. I believe that they help our understanding, but I agree, with the recent experience of Rio behind me, that they indeed require of Prime Ministers and their supporting teams a great deal of stamina. They are useful but we should have them only when they are truly necessary.