§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether 1997 is to be the Year of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom and, if so, which organisations are to be involved and how the year is to be celebrated.
§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey:The Royal Commonwealth Society, as the Commonwealth Liaison Unit for the United Kingdom, and a range of other bodies have proposed that 1997 be designated UK year of the Commonwealth. They are co-ordinating a series of events to commemorate it and have published a leaflet about it. We welcome this initiative and look forward to a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh on 24th-27th October 1997.