§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the cost to public funds of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation; what is the strength of its establishment, and its salary bill; and what are its practical achievements to date.
§ Mrs. HartU.N.I.D.O., which was established only in 1967, forms part of the United Nations Organisation, and its administration and research budget forms part of the United Nations Budget. The U.N.I.D.O. budget for 1969 amounts to about £4.6 million ($ U.S. 11 million). Britain's assessed contribution is 6.62 per cent., or £303,400.
U.N.I.D.O.'s establishment of professional and general service posts for 1969 is 270 and 321 respectively: the bill for their salaries together with wages this year is estimated at £2.5 million ($ U.S. 6 million).
The organisation is developing a wide range of industrial services designed principally for the benefit of developing countries. It provides from its budget and from voluntary contributions a series of technical meetings and research activities, and carries out technical assistance activities financed by the Special Industrial Services Trust Fund (with 285 projects approved up to the end of 1968), by the United Nations regular programme and by the United Nations Development Programme (which has 22 major and many smaller technical assistance projects).