HC Deb 15 November 1991 vol 198 c685W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Her Majesty's Government has yet decided on their preferred candidate for the position of chainnan of the World Health Organisation general assembly in May 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

It has been the practice for a number of years for the post of President of the World Health Assembly to be rotated between the six regions of the World Health Organisation—that is, European, Eastern Mediterranean, African, South East Asian, Western Pacific and American. It is left to the region whose turn it is to hold the Presidency to decide which candidate to put forward for nomination to the World Health Assembly. Candidates are normally elected unopposed. In 1992 it will be the turn of the eastern mediterranean region to nominate a candidate for the Presidency.