§ Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether she will ensure that during the forthcoming United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community's Council of Ministers there will be no change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government that British Ministers, whether at home or abroad, do not meet representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation so long as the Palestine Liberation Organisation does not recognise Israel's right to exist; and whether she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThere are no plans for meetings between British Ministers and representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. It is, however, possible that in the second half of the year, while this country holds the Presidency of the European Community, it may be necessary for my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs representing the Presidency, to meet representatives of the PLO. The PLO at present holds the Presidency of the Arab League. Such a meeting would not be the first occasion on which the Presidency of the Community had met the PLO.
Commitments 1975 £ million 1976 £ million 1977 £ million 1978 £ million 1979 £ million 1980 £ million Total £ million England of which 12.10 28.94 26.75 43.61 76.29 75.03 262.72 Northern Region 7.17 18.86 18.30 18.27 25.71 25.12 113.43 North West Region 3.03 6.85 5.36 19.81 34.33 28.94 98.32 Yorkshire and Humberside Region 1.00 2.10 2.34 4.06 7.24 18.21 34.95 East Midlands Region 0.11 0.39 0.33 0.30 1.03 0.69 2.85 West Midlands Region 0.01 — — — 0.04 0.30 0.35 South West Region 0.78 0.74 0.42 1.17 7.94 1.77 12.82 Scotland 9.85 14.61 13.93 24.83 37.17 26.69 127.08 Wales 6.20 8.36 6.51 17.05 21.72 32.47 92.31 Northern Ireland 7.75 7.22 8.13 14.22 27.75 19.22 84.29 Total United Kingdom 35.90 59.13 55.32 99.71 162.93 153.41 566.40
Payments 1975 £ million 1976 £ million 1977 £ million 1978 £ million 1979 £ million 1980 £ million Total £ million England of which: 1.22 19.28 22.32 20.45 50.11 66.55 179.93 Northern Region 0.69 13.03 14.15 12.33 16.74 20.40 77.34 North West Region 0.32 4.26 4.49 5.44 29.63 26.91 71.05 Yorkshire and Humberside Region 0.15 1.29 2.60 1.64 2.31 14.70 22.69 East Midlands Region 0.01 0.15 0.24 0.20 0.96 0.50 2.06 West Midlands Region — 0.01 — — — 0.10 0.11 South West Region 0.05 0.54 0.85 0.84 0.46 3.94 6.68 Scotland 2.02 5.78 15.73 9.90 21.28 26.86 81.57