HC Deb 12 May 1999 vol 331 c165W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department intends to respond to the signing on 5 May of a tripartite agreement on East Timor by Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations Organisation. [84031]

Clare Short

We will contribute $1 million to the Trust Fund established to enable the United Nations to conduct a popular consultation and ensure an orderly transition to autonomy or independence. We will support a co-ordinated international effort, led by the United Nations, and are exploring how we might also help develop capacity in civil society.