British American Community Relations Committees

HC Deb 22 November 1995 vol 267 c179W

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the functions and budgets of the Anglo/Scottish/Welsh-American community relations committees; what is the current membership of each; and what is the process by which individuals are appointed to these bodies. [1297]

Mr. Soames

The function of these committees, now known as British American community relations committees, is to promote friendship and understanding between the US service personnel and civilian components, their dependants, and the British communities amongst whom they live. The only cost to the Department of these committees are certain out-of-pocket expenses for chairmen and administrative support provided by MOD-employed community relations advisers. Membership of the committees includes a chairman, who is appointed by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the US commander who acts as co-chairman, and, where applicable, a community relations adviser and an RAF commander. Also serving on the committees are a number of British civilians and US service personnel, selected by the chairman and co-chairman respectively.