§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since the reply by the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour) to the hon. Member for Melton on 7 July 1981, Official Report, c. 92.
§ Mr. PymIn the past 12 months we have made the following progress towards achieving the objectives of our policy programme.
The second British presidency of the European Community was conducted with businesslike efficiency in a way designed to emphasise our commitment to the Community and our constructive approach to its 448W development. The London report of last October on political co-operation consolidated and improved a valuable activity of the Ten. We continue to search for a better balance in the Community's policies and fairer financial arrangements; in May, agreement was reached on a further year's rebate on our budget contribution.
The NATO Summit held in Bonn last month demonstrated the cohesion of the Atlantic Alliance and reaffirmed the allies' commitment to strong collective defences as well as to the ideals that unite us. We have worked within NATO to enhance the security of the Alliance and to achieve a common response to events in Poland and an agreed approach to relations with the Soviet Union. Where there have been differences we have sought to limit their scope and significance.
The search for the balanced and verifiable reduction of armaments, in a manner that enhances peace and security, continues to be a major objective of our foreign policy as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in her address to the United Nations special session on disarmament last month. We have played an active part in preparing Western proposals for reductions in nuclear and conventional forces, and we welcome the current negotiations between the United States and the USSR on intermediate and strategic nuclear weapons.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's participation in the Commonwealth heads of Government meeting in Melbourne and the Cancun summit last autumn demonstrated our concern with the developing world and its problems. Our aid programme, at over £1,000 million, remains one of the largest in the world and is carefully targeted to provide the best value for money in areas where the need is greatest.
We have continued to contribute as best we can, on our own or with our allies and European Community partners, to the maintenance of peace and the promotion of stability through diplomatic efforts devoted to the resolution of crises and conflicts, in particular those affecting Namibia, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, our successful efforts to secure international condemnation of this act of aggression and to win support for economic and political pressure on Argentina confirmed the value of our continuing policy of building up close political relationships with our friends, allies and partners in the European community, NATO and the Commonwealth.