§ Q20. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister on what basis he selects or appoints delegates to international bodies such as Western European Union, Council of Europe, &c.; how Members of Parliament can ask for consideration to be included in such delegations; and whether he will see that in future a balance of pro- and anti-Common Market Members of Parliament and senior and junior Members are appointed.
§ The Prime MinisterAlthough as Prime Minister I appoint all the United Kingdom delegates to the Western European Union and Council of Europe, delegates from the Labour and Liberal Parties are nominated by the leaders of those parties.
Appointments of delegates to the North Atlantic Assembly and Bermuda Conferences are also made on the basis of party nominations.
The selection of delegates to conferences of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is organised by those bodies themselves.