§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the aims and objects of the United Nations Committee of 24 which is organising the international conference in support of the peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia.
§ Mr. LuardThe Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of a Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples—commonly know as the Committee of 24—was established by General Assembly Resolution 1654 (XVI). Its purpose was to examine the application of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV)) and to make suggestions and recommendations on progress and the extent of the implementation of this Declaration. The Committee makes periodic reports to the Assembly on its findings.
The Committee was originally composed of 17 members. It was enlarged to 24 in 1962, when it also took over some additional responsibilities hitherto 392W dealt with by the committees on territories under Portuguese administration and on South West Africa, and by the Sub-Committee on the situation in Angola. I have arranged for the relevant Resolutions to be placed in the Library.
The Committee of 24 is not solely responsible for the organisation of the International Conference in Support of the Peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia. Under the provision of Resolution 31/145 of the last General Assembly the organisation of the Conference lies with the Secretary-General in co-operation with the Committee and the United Nations Council for Namibia. The papers so far issued by the Organising Committee have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the methods by which the United Nations Committee of 24 seeks to achieve its aims in relation to Southern Africa.
§ Mr. LuardThe Committee of 24, whose work is not confined solely to Southern African issues, acts on the basis of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1654 (XVI), a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the aims and objects of the United Nations Committee of 24 which are supported by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. LuardThe aims and objectives of the United Nations Committee of 24 are described in United Nations Resolution 1654 (XVI), a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Her Majesty's Government, whilst they have not always been able to subscribe to the recommendations of the Committee, co-operate with the Committee in its work.