§ Sir David KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the preparatory committee of the United Nations General Assembly on the establishment of an international criminal court, indicating whether Her Majesty's Government will provide financial support to help to create such an institution. [963]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWe have participated actively in the work of the preparatory committee. While much has been achieved, an enormous amount remains to be done. We therefore supported the recommendation of the preparatory committee at its last session that up to nine more weeks were required for further preparatory work. We also believe that we should set a date in 1998 for a conference to consider the statute of such a court. At the next session of the General Assembly, we shall need to review the progress made by the preparatory committee in its sessions in 1997.
169WThe preparatory process is founded out of the UN regular budget to which we contribute.