CERN (Hansard, 9 November 1988)

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker

Following concern within the United Kingdom about the membership cost of CERN and its perceived organisational shortcomings, the United Kingdom took the lead in promoting a review of CERN's management led by Professor Abragam. Since that report was completed, the United Kingdom has worked actively with other member countries and the CERN management to carry forward to implementation the many changes and improvements recommended in the report.

In a statement to the CERN council last June, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science noted the continuing scientific excellence of CERN; welcomed the council's decision to streamline its staff complement through a new early departure scheme; and particularly welcomed the development of new contribution arrangements that would spread the cost of CERN more equitably among participating member countries. However, the council has yet to reach agreement on when these new and fairer arrangements should commence. Resolving this is a matter to which the United Kingdom attaches priority and, in the circumstances, no decision will be announced on the United Kingdom's longer-term intentions for membership until further progress has been achieved. It is, however, expected that a further statement will be made before the end of 1988.