§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what options are currently under review to address the UN budget deficit. [54025]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe best option currently under consideration to address the UN's financial difficulties is the package of financial reform proposals developed by the UK and France and tabled by the EU in New York in January 1996. These comprise full payment of all member states' arrears; revision of the UN Regular Budget and peacekeeping scales of assessment to reflect more closely member states' capacity to pay; and penalties and incentives to encourage prompt payment in future.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in respect of the USA's current membership of the UN General Assembly; what dues are currently owed by the United States of America to the UN; and what percentage of total arrears this constitutes. [54024]
§ Mr. Tony LloydAll UN member states, including the US, have the right to be represented on the UN General Assembly's six Main Committees. Those states whose arrears exceed two years' contributions (of which the US is not one) may not vote in the General Assembly. At 30 June the US owed $569 million to the UN Regular Budget and $966 million to UN peacekeeping budgets in respect of prior year arrears and unpaid 1998 dues. This represents 62 per cent. of total unpaid dues to the Regular Budget and 63 per cent. of total unpaid dues to peacekeeping budgets.