HL Deb 06 June 1967 vol 283 c394WA
LORD BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the accumulated deficit on

  1. (a) the normal accounts of the United Nations; and
  2. (b) the Special Peace Keeping Fund;
what is the budgeted forecast for the coming year; and how the presumed present shortfall is financed.

LORD CHALFONT

The finances of the United Nations are complex and there are divergent views about the current assets and liabilities. A Committee which examined the matter last year put the accumulated deficit on the regular budget and the peacekeeping accounts at between approximately £11.5 and £19 million after taking into account voluntary contributions paid or pledged at that time. The figures are not significantly different today. About £5.4 million is attributable to the failure of certain Member States to discharge their regular budget assessments, and the overall deficit is increasing at the rate of about £1.8 million a year. The Organisation also has a liability for the repayment of bonds, of which the amount now outstanding is approximately £54 million. To the extent that the shortfall is not covered by unliquidated obligations, it is met from the Working Capital Fund.

House adjourned at fourteen minutes past ten o'clock.