§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 440W why Her Majesty's Government decided to oppose the seminar arranged for senior civil servants at the College of Europe in Bruges; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's future policy towards such seminars.
Mr. Anthony BoyleHer Majesty's Government did not make this decision. Bruges Seminars held in 1969 and 1970 were financed in part from N.A.T.O.'s civil budget to which Her Majesty's Government contributes. Last December the North Atlantic Council decided unanimously that in view of the current pressures on N.A.T.O.'s finances, no contribution towards the cost of a seminar on public administration could be included in the 1971 civil budget. Neither the Council, nor Her Majesty's Government ruled out the possibility of reexamining the inclusion of the Bruges seminar in later budgets.