§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any information as to the overseas towns or countries overseas with which British towns are twinned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with the Joint Twinning Committee of Local Authority Associations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The secretariat of the committee maintains a record of United Kingdom twinnings. British towns are twinned with 1,250 overseas towns in 48 overseas countries.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is represented on the Joint Twinning Committee of Local Authorities Associations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. EggarThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office is represented with observer status on the Joint Twinning Committee.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds were made available to the Joint Twinning Committee of Local Authorities Associations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by the British Council in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarThe British Council made the following funds available to the Joint Twinning Committee in each of the last five financial years: 1981–82—£37,350; 1982–83—£39,800; 1983–84—£46,500; 1984–85—£49,600; 1985–86—£52,680.