§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what control is exercised by the United Kingdom over the expenditure incurred by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in military and political activities.
§ Mr. R. AllanDecisions to incur expenditure are taken by Member Governments collectively through their representatives on the North Atlantic Council. The Financial Regulations of the Council and the Rules and Procedures for their implementation, and the proportion of expenditure to be contributed by each country, are negotiated collectively by Representatives on the Council and its Committees. The Council appoints international Boards of Auditors, from which it receives reports as appropriate.
§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the administrative expenses incurred in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and what is the British contribution.
§ Mr. R. AllanI am afraid that it is not possible to distinguish accurately between the administrative and the purely operational expenses of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Military and Civil Budgets. According to the Budget of the Civil Agencies, a copy of which is available in the House, the equivalent of £2,717,700 was estimated for those agencies in 1959. The estimated United Kingdom contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Budgets in 1959–60 are shown under Subhead C.5 of the Foreign Office Grants and Services Estimate and Subhead C.1 of the Ministry of Defence Estimate for that year. These await Parliamentary approval.