Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (Hansard, 15 April 1991)

HC Deb 15 April 1991 vol 189 c105W 105W

§ Sir Eldon Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agencies of the CSCE have so far been set up; what is the foundation and composition of each and where is it located; and when he expects ministers of the CSCE member Governments to meet to more closely define the functions of each of these agencies and enable them to make progress in achieving the tasks assigned to them.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The Paris summit of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe established three institutions: secretariat, conflict prevention centre and office for free elections. The Paris charter, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, defines their size, composition and function.
The institutions are accountable to the Council of Foreign Ministers of CSCE states, which will meet for the first time in Berlin in June.

§ Sir Eldon Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the United Kingdom is making to(a) the Western European Union, and (b) the secretariat and crisis prevention centre of the CSCE and other agencies of that organisation; and what is the approximate manpower in post in each case.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United Kingdom will meet 9.1 per cent. of the approved budgets of the CSCE secretariat, the conflict prevention centre and the office of free elections. When fully operational, these will have a total staff of eight, seven and five respectively. We meet 17 per cent. of the WEU budget. The overall staff total of WEU institutions is approximately 109.