§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those international organisations on which his Department is represented and the total cost of these commitments.
§ Mr. MellorDepartment of Health Ministers and/or officials represent the United Kingdom at the world health assembly, at meetings of the World Health Organisation's regional committee for Europe and at other meetings arranged by the WHO; the United Kingdom's assessed contribution to the organisation's regular budget—amounting in the current financial year to £7.559 million—is paid by the Department of Health. Departmental officials also represent the United Kingdom at meetings of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission and of other committees concerned with public health and with rehabilitation organised by the Council of Europe, but whose membership comprises only some members of the Council of Europe; the United Kingdom's contribution to the work of these committees—amounting to £287,000 in the current financial year—is made by the Department.
Departmental Ministers and/or officials also represent the United Kingdom at meetings of a number of international organisations dealing with health and personal social service issues, to which the United Kingdom's contribution is not primarily a charge on Department of Health votes—for example, councils and working groups of the European Community, and ministerial meetings and steering groups of the Council of Europe and of the OECD.
The cost of attendance at meetings of these bodies are not separately identified.