HC Deb 15 June 2000 vol 351 cc704-5W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts concerning the payment of dues owed to the UN; and if he will make a statement. [125818]

Mr. Hain

There have been no discussions recently but, at ministerial level, the UK has long pressed for a resolution to the problem of US arrears to the UN. Though we have welcomed US agreement under the Helms-Biden legislation to pay a substantial portion of their arrears, the US will need to convince the UN membership of the case for accepting the conditions attached to the legislation. At the EU General Affairs Council on 20 March, Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to securing a comprehensive reform of UN finances to put them on a sound, sustainable and equitable basis, and emphasised that the EU could only consider a reordering of UN contributions which protected EU member states' financial interests.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts concerning the establishment of a constitutional conference to discuss reform of the UN. [125819]

Mr. Hain

There have been no recent ministerial discussions on the question of a conference to discuss reform of the United Nations. However, the Government are committed to supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts to modernise the UN, based on his 1997 package of reform recommendations. We look forward to a discussion on strengthening the UN at the Millennium Summit in September.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the UK Government have to discuss UN reform at the UN Millennium Summit. [125820]

Mr. Hain

We look forward to a wide-ranging discussion of the role of the United Nations in the 21st century at the Millennium Summit in September. We agree with comments made by the UN Secretary-General in his Millennium Report that, among other things, the Summit should consider the need to make the organisation more effective, efficient and accessible to the world's peoples.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts regarding(a) the World Bank, (b) the IMF and (c) the WTO and their relationship with the Economic and Social Council of the UN. [125821]

Mr. Hain

Although this had not been discussed at ministerial level, the Government consider good relations between the United Nations, the international financial institutions and the WTO to be a high priority. We encourage and support the efforts of the Economic and Social Council and the World Bank and the IMF to strengthen their ties. The WTO is also involved in the UN's Financing for Development process in which the UK is playing an active role with our EU partners.