South Pacific Commission

HC Deb 04 February 1994 vol 236 cc957-8W

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for withdrawing from the South Pacific Commission.

Mr. Goodlad

Withdrawal from membership of the South Pacific Commission will allow us to concentrate limited financial resources where they will have most effect, on maintaining a bilateral diplomatic presence in a number of south Pacific countries, and on a continuing bilateral and multilateral aid programme. Since the New Hebrides became independent as Vanuatu in 1980 the United Kingdom's right to membership of the commission has depended solely on the existence of the Pitcairn island dependency. Withdrawal will not affect support for the commission's development projects, which is met from the Overseas Development Aministration's aid programme budget.