HC Deb 17 February 1995 vol 254 c887W
Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Heads of State or of Government have indicated they will attend the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

Mr. Goodlad

Over 90 Heads of State/Government have confirmed their attendance at the Summit. Several countries, including Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Ireland and Greece have not yet decided who will represent them.

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Ministers who have represented the United Kingdom at preparatory meetings for the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

Mr. Baldry

The four preparatory committee meetings held in New York to prepare the documentation for the summit have been attended by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Administration, the Department of Social Security and the Department of Employment. The vast majority of countries, including all our European Union partners, felt that ministerial attendance was not appropriate.

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will support the common European position at the forthcoming United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

Mr. Goodlad

Yes. United Kingdom and European Union policies on the summit are in line. The United Kingdom has played a full part in European Union co-ordination during preparations for the summit.

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the European Union policy to be presented at the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

Mr. Goodlad

We are content with the European Union's position in relation to the summit. It is the result of active EU co-ordination in New York and Brussels during which many of our suggestions for strong texts on the three core issues were incorporated into the overall EU position.

Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will include representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress in the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

Mr. Goodlad

The United Kingdom delegation to the summit will not include representatives of non-governmental organisations. However, the Trades Union Congress, along with several other UK-based NGOs are planning to send representatives to the summit.