§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlay the decision to transfer financial responsibility for the mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and to which Department Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors in Vienna is responsible.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office traditionally has responsibility for the costs associated with missions to international organisations including those in Vienna. Until recently the Department of Energy paid for 50 per cent. of the costs, including overheads, of Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and his personal assistant. These costs were transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to bring together responsibility for and control of resources and in the interests of greater efficiency. Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency is concurrenty permanent representative to other United Nations organisations in Vienna. Although on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office establishment, he also reports, therefore, to a variety of Departments in London.