HC Deb 29 January 2002 vol 379 c235W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) of 16 October 2001,Official Report, column 1149W, whether the sum referred to in his statement has been released to the United Nations; and what proportion this represents of the total moneys due. [29730]

Mr. MacShane

United States Congress authorised payment of arrears to the United Nations in three tranches. Tranche I was paid in 1999. Of the tranche II total of $582 million, a $465 million cash payment was made by the United States to the United Nations in November last year. The remainder is being offset in the form of reimbursements owed to the US by the United Nations. We expect tranche III to be paid some time this year.

Tranche II represents approximately 60 per cent, of the moneys due to the United Nations in the three-tranche package.