HC Deb 20 February 1986 vol 92 cc280-2W
Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the scholarships, bursaries, grants and training schemes operated by the Council of Europe for which United Kingdom nationals are eligible; and how many United Kingdom nationals have benefited from each such scheme in each of the previous three years, indicating what proportion of the total take-up each share represents.

Mr. Renton

It has not been possible to obtain the information requested in the time available. As soon as I have the information I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek an increase in the resources of the directorate of press and information of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Renton

No.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the proportion attributable to the United Kingdom of the annual budget of the directorate of press and information of the Council of Europe; and what sum this represents in (a) the current financial year and (b) the preceding financial year.

Mr. Renton

The United Kingdom proportion is 16.73 per cent. In 1986 this represents £344,438; in 1985 it was £337,800.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he has taken to assess the value for money given by the work of the directorate of press and information of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what assessment he has made of the current public impact of the work of the directorate of press and information of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Renton

No such assessment has been undertaken.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of Her Majesty's Government's officials are currently members of Council of Europe committees and working parties.

Mr. Renton

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it his policy to make a regular quarterly report to Parliament of the activities of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and of the role played by the United Kingdom in the organisation during the preceding three months.

Mr. Renton

No. A copy of the report presented by the chairman of the Committee of Ministers to each session of the Parliamentary Assembly is placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library a comprehensive summary of the proceedings of the ordinary part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg from 27 to 31 January.

Mr. Renton

The summary of the proceedings on 27–29 January prepared by the Council of Europe secretariat is aready available in the Library. The summary of the proceedings on 30–31 January is expected to arrive shortly.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the principal subjects debated, texts adopted, and other decisions taken at the ordinary part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg from 27 to 31 January; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

The subjects debated and texts adopted were as follows:

  • European Social Charter (Recommendation 1022)
  • Youth Unemployment (Recommendation 1023)
  • European Response to Terrorism (Recommendation 1024)
  • The Situation of Palestinian Refugees (Recommendation 1025)
  • Amendment of Articles 14 and 25 of the Council of Europe (Recommendation 1026 and 1027)
  • Scientific Exchanges between Europe and Japan (Recommendation 1028)
  • European Scientific and technological cooperation (Recommendation 1029)
  • Monetary cooperation between Europe and Latin America (Recommendation 1030)

Resolutions were also adopted on equality between women and men, the Africa food crisis, Europe's agro food industry and European integration, 30th and 31st annual reports of the European conference of Ministers of Transport.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he monitors the proceedings of ordinary part-sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

The proceedings of these sessions are monitored from the record of the proceedings prepared by the Council of Europe secretariat which is received by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to improve public awareness in the United Kingdom of the work of both organs of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Renton

None. Publicity in the United Kingdom for the work of the Council of Europe is one of the functions of the Council's directorate of press and information.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is seeking through the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to improve public awareness of the work of both organs of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Renton

I currently have no plans to seek such steps.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the existing means of informing (a) Parliament and (b) the public of the deliberations, decisions and other activities of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and of the Secretariat General; and if he proposes to seek any change in this machinery.

Mr. Renton

Documentation recording the deliberations, decisions and other activities of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and of the Secretariat General is available in the Library.

It is one of the functions of the directorate of press and information to inform the public of these matters. It is not proposed to seek any changes in the existing arrangements.

Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the existing means of informing (a) Parliament and (b) the public of the deliberations, decisions and other activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he proposes to seek any change in this machinery.

Mr. Renton

Documentation on the deliberations, decisions and other activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is available in the Library. It is one of the functions of the directorate of press and information to inform the public of these proceedings. It is not proposed to seek any changes in the existing arrangements.