Written question asked by Michael Moore (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 25 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 March 2009. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Conflict Prevention

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what estimate has been made of the effect on the costs to the Government of its commitments to international institutions caused by the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The projected increase in the UK's assessed peacekeeping contributions in 2009-10 is the result of both an increase in peacekeeping activity international and the fall in the value of sterling against the US dollar and the euro.The impact of exchange rate changes in financial year 2008-09 has been partly offset by the effects of forward purchasing our foreign currency requirement.We have earmarked £456 million for assessed costs in 2009-10. However, this remains a projection as UN peacekeeping costs are still to be negotiated by the UN General Assembly for 2009-10, and future UN peacekeeping activity remains subject to decisions by the UN Security Council. We cannot provide an accurate estimate of the additional costs caused by the fall in the value of sterling rather than through the expansion of international peacekeeping missions until the budgets for each of the individual missions are agreed and payments made.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 491 c498W; 267722
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Conflict Resources 2009-10
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects: Finance Conflict prevention
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk