HC Deb 23 January 1992 vol 202 cc295-6W
Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the name and nationality of the director, secretary-general or president, as applicable of(a) the Commission of the European Communities, (b) the World bank, (c) the International Monetary Fund, (d) the European bank for reconstruction and development, (e) the secretariat of the Council of Europe, (f) the secretariat of the Western European Union, (g) the secretariat of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its new institutions, (h) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and (i) the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and if he will make a statement on whether any British citizens are being advanced for these posts when vacancies arise.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

(a) The president of the European Commission is Jacques Delors, a French national. The president is appointed from among the members of the Commission by common accord, and British citizens will be advanced for the post when appropriate.

(b) The president of the World bank is Lewis Preston, a United States national. The post is customarily filled by the United States.

(c) The managing director of the International Monetary Fund is Michel Camdessus, a French national. The post will not become vacant until 1997. A decision about a possible British successor will be made nearer the time.

(d) The president of the European bank for reconstruction and development is Jacques Attali, a French national. The post will not become vacant until 1995, and a decision about a possible British successor will be made nearer the time.

(e) The Secretary General of the Council of Europe is Catherine Lalumiere, a French national. British candidates are advanced for posts in the secretariat as appropriate.

(f) The Secretary General of the Western European Union is W. F. Van Eekelen, of the Netherlands. A Benelux national has always held the post of Secretary-General of the WEU.

(g) The director of the secretariat of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe is Nils Eliasson, a Swedish national; the director of the Conflict Prevention Centre is Bent Rosenthal, a Danish national; the director of the Office of Free Elections is Lucchino Cortese, an Italian national. These posts will become vacant in 1994. A decision on whether to advance British candidates will be made nearer the time.

(h) The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is Jean-Claude Paye, a French national. The post will become vacant in 1994. A decision on whether to advance a British candidate will be made nearer the time.

(i) The Director-General of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is Arthur Dunkel, a Swiss national. The post may become vacant this year, but there is no British candidate.