§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what complaints have been made about wasteful expenditure at the United Nations by the United Kingdom permanent representative; and if he will consider the withdrawal of the United Kingdom delegation from the United Nations General Assembly.
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§ Mr. EggarThe permanent representative of the United Kingdom plays an active role in efforts to secure improvements in the efficiency of the United Nations and draws frequent attention to areas where wasteful expenditure could be avoided. He did so during the discussions of the organisation's budget for 1986–87. He continues to take appropriate opportunities to do so, for example, by commenting on United Nations plans to hold three separate conferences on Southern Africa costing more than £2 million which would duplicate proceedings at the United Nations itself. We have no intention of withdrawing the United Kingdom delegation from the United Nations General Assembly: not least since to do so would deprive us of influence over the United Nations' financial affairs.