HC Deb 20 January 1982 vol 16 c138W
Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Lord Privy Seal on what proportion of occasions in each of the last seven years the member States of the European Community decided to vote together in the United Nations General Assembly; on how many occasions during each Presidency the member State holding the Presidency of the Council spoke on behalf of the member States in the United Nations General Assembly during the past five years; and on which issues the British Presidency spoke on behalf of the Ten in the General Assembly.

Mr. Hurd

The proportion of occasions, in each of the last seven years, on which the member States of the European Community have—including consensus—voted together in the United Nations General Assembly are as follows:

  • 1975: 83.4 per cent.
  • 1976: 82.3 per cent.
  • 1977: 83.5 per cent.
  • 1978: 81.0 per cent.
  • 1979: 82.2 per cent.
  • 1980: 80.9 per cent.
  • 1981: 77.3 per cent.

The number of occasions in each of the last five years on which delegates of the member State holding the Presidency—or another delegation on its behalf—have spoken on behalf of the member States in the United Nations General Assembly—including common statements and common explanations of vote—are as follows:

  • 1977: 61
  • 1978: 73
  • 1979: 82
  • 1980: 69
  • 1981: 123

I shall write separately to my hon. Friend with a full list of the 123 items on which the British Presidency spoke on behalf of the Ten during the 1981 General Assembly.