HC Deb 29 July 1976 vol 916 cc374-5W
Mrs. Millie Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use has been made of the grant of £200,000 per annum which was to be made available for projects for women in the poorer countries and in rural areas during the first three years of the UN International Decade for Women.

Mr. Luard

None as yet. Although the United Kingdom has long been ready to contribute the first instalment of its grant, we cannot do so until United Nations arrangements for the administration of the Voluntary Fund for the Decade for Women are satisfactorily endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

Mrs Millie Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made, in view of Her Majesty's Government's commitment to the UN International Decade for Women, to ensure improved representation of women in international conferences; and what proportion of the United Kingdom delegation to the UN Habitat Conference in Vancouver in June 1976 were women, and in what capacities they attended.

Mr. Luard

Our commitment of course remains. British delegations include women when they are suitably qualified, but it is not always possible to find as many such women as we would like. Two women attended the Habitat Conference as full members of the United Kingdom delegation of 21.