§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the United Kingdom's contribution to the costs of the preparatory commission for the international organization established under the Comprehensive Test Ban treaty, expressing the figures(a) for each relevant 373W Government financial year and (b) for each financial year of the commission; and from which subheads of which votes these funds are taken. [2551]
§ Dr. John ReidThe Government is fully committed to the strong verification regime of monitoring and on-site inspection which is so essential to the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The Budget of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation is determined annually. That for 1997 was finalised last March and amounted to some $US28, of which the United Kingdom contribution, based upon the United Nations scale of charges, is 6 per cent. So far the United kingdom has paid some $US213,00, and the balance will be paid later this year.