Council of Europe

HC Deb 14 July 1975 vol 895 c325W

Mr. Raymond Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards continued British membership of the Council of Europe and its constituent bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hattersley

The Council of Europe provides a framework for debate and exchanges of information and other forms of co-operation among Western European countries.

We value this work, particularly the opportunities it provides for communication between the Nine member States of the European Community and the other democratic countries of Western Europe. We certainly intend that British membership of the Council and of its constituent bodies should continue.

APPROXIMATE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF BRITISH EMBASSIES
Post	Salaries and allowances of United Kingdom staff	Entertainment allowances	Wages of local staff	Maintenance	Total
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
Washington:
1972–73	…	…	0.78	0.08	0.69	0.66	2.2
1973–74	…	…	0.91	0.08	0.75	0.72	2.5
1974–75	…	…	0.98	0.08	0.82	0.78	2.7
Paris:
1972–73	…	…	0.43	0.07	0.33	0.47	1.3
1973–74	…	…	0.50	0.09	0.52	0.59	1.7
1974–75	…	…	0.62	0.09	0.56	0.63	1.9
Bonn:
1972–73	…	…	0.42	0.04	0.36	0.28	1.1
1973–74	…	…	0.51	0.06	0.62	0.31	1.5
1974–75	…	…	0.56	0.07	0.69	0.28	1.6
Rome:
1972–73	…	…	0.19	0.02	0.17	0.22	0.6
1973–74	…	…	0.21	0.02	0.21	0.26	0.7
1974–75	…	…	0.23	0.03	0.20	0.24	0.7
Brussels:
1972–73	…	…	0.17	0.02	0.22	0.19	0.6
1973–74	…	…	0.22	0.03	0.33	0.21	0.8
1974–75	…	…	0.26	0.03	0.34	0.27	0.9