§ Mr. Harry EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list in theOfficial Report the intergovernmental organisations, excluding the European Communities, of which the United Kingdom is a member, the amount of the United Kingdom's annual contribution to each organisation, the percentage of each organisation's budget which this represents and which Government Department accounts for each contribution.
§ Mr. Eggar[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1988, c. 312]: I should have said,
I shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Harry EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what general principles are applied by Her Majesty's Government in determining the level of United Kingdom contributions to intergovernmental organisations; whether the United Kingdom consults other countries about its budgetary policy with respect to these organisations; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe policy of this Government is identical to that of their predecessors; namely, to meet our obligations to international organisations in full and on time. Assessed United Kingdom contributions are usually determined by reference to a pre-set scale of assessment which varies from one organisation to another. Voluntary contributions are determined by the Minister concerned.
For the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank Group, the regional development banks and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, we seek equitable burden sharing in the capital stock of each institution and in the soft fund replenishments.
Budgetary matters are discussed with other countries as appropriate.