HC Deb 31 July 1972 vol 842 cc21-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of the International Union of Local Authorities in 1972–73 by £5,500; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

Mr. Anthony Royle

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities.

Its purpose is to assist the British section of the International Union of Local Authorities with a joint programme of activities with the Council of European Municipalities aimed at increasing contacts between local government in the United Kingdom and in Western Europe.

The International Union of Local Authorities is a non-political professional organisation, covering 65 countries, which aims to promote the cause of local autonomy, to raise standards of local administration, to study all questions concerning local government and to foster the participation of people in local government activities.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the European League for Economic Co-operation (British sector) in 1972–73 by £10,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

Mr. Anthony Royle

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities. Its purpose it to assist the British section of the European League for Economic Co-operation to participate in the actitives of the League and to organise a programme of visits, exchanges and conferences concerned with economic co-operation in Western Europe. The British section of the European League for Economic Co-operation exists to promote economic co-operation in Europe, particularly in the fields of monetary, economic and agricultural policies.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of Europa Nostra for 1972–73 by £15,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

Mr. Anthony Royle

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities. Its purpose is to assist the British section of Europa Nostra to develop exchanges of views and visits between amenity societies in Britain and Europe through the medium of Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra is an international federation embracing all the principal non-governmental organisations working for urban and natural conservation in Western Europe.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has increased the grant-in-aid to the British sector of the Council of European Municipalities for 1972–73 by £10,000; and what is the purpose and object of this organisation and its expenditure.

Mr. Anthony Royle

The grant-in-aid is provided as part of a series of measures to increase contacts with Europe in view of our impending entry into the European Communities.

Its purpose to to assist the British section of the Council of European Municipalities with a joint programme with the International Union of Local Authorities in fostering closer links with European organisations concerned with local government affairs.

The Council of European Municipalities is an association of municipalities and regional bodies in Western European countries which exists inter alia to strengthen the autonomy of local authorities, to improve the administration of municipalities, to advance European unity, and to ensure the participation by local authorities in the work of European organisations and institutions.