§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made, following UNCT resolution 44/211, of the balance of resources and effect between strengthening the role of the United Nations specialised agencies as centres of excellence and as aid agencies in the field.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSince the adoption of United Nations General Assembly resolution 44/211, and the subsequent triennial review of progress embodied in resolution 47/199, we have been supporting efforts, through our membership of the agencies' governing bodies, to ensure that the specialised agencies concentrate on effective performance of their traditional functions. These include identifying global issues, analysing options and mobilising actions, rather than routine project implementation. Our assessment is that to date the agencies are responding satisfactorily to the pressure for reform, although we shall continue to monitor the situation closely.