asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom failed to support a resolution by the United Nations Economic Committee, asking that United Nations organisations should co-operate with the Palestine Liberation Organisation to improve the social and economic well-being of the Palestinian people.

The Government support the provision of assistance to the Palestinian people through the United Nations. The resolution in question would not have affected such assistance but was concerned rather with the status of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the United Nations and its organs. In line with our established policy on this issue and in common with other members of the Nine, the United Kingdom therefore abstained.