JICA 024) 45

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Delegation Briefs

4. A list of briefs, with Departmental allocations, is at Annex C, covering those agenda items on which an FCO input is appropriate, and a range of topics of general Commonwealth interest on which Delegates might be tackled. Departments are

free to suggest additional topics. WIAD will coordinate separate briefing for any bilateral meeting, and the CPA UK Branch Secretariat will arrange briefing on purely Parliamentary issues.

5. The format is at Annex D. Briefs should be factual (ie with no "line to take") ANYTHING OVER THREE SIDES OF A4 WILL REQUIRE JUSTIFICATION. While allowing for the non-Government nature of the Delegation, the briefs should cover the British Government's position on the issues.

Classified Briefs

6.

Parallel briefing, in normal FCO Ministerial format, will be required for Mrs Chalker's use. This should include, in tiret/clutch card form, an appropriate line to take, and any additional or classified Background information. Copies of relevant Ministerial speeches/statements would also be useful.

Speeches

7.

Delegation members are responsible for the content of their own interventions. But it is almost certain that Mrs Chalker will feel obliged to present the Government's position in the Plenary, on "Current Developments in Southern Africa with special reference to Namibia and Angola" [in response, subject to confirmation, to an opening statement by Mr Ramphal, and delegates' interventions]. CCD will be in touch directly with SAFD who will coordinate with CAFD over this. Additionally, Mrs Chalker will require speaking notes for Agenda item 1, "The contribution of Commonwealth Parliaments in Efforts to achieve complete Decolonisation, End of Racism, and Apartheid and Foreign Occupation", on which UND are leading. The FCO delegation Briefs will form only part of the briefing available to UK speakers on particular items/panel topics, with the CPA UK Branch Secretariat collecting further material ad hoc from the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament, public sources and other Ministries and organisations.

Deadlines

8.

CHOGM, the Parliamentary Calendar and Mrs Chalker's travel plans mean that briefing for the Delegation needs to be ready well in advance of departure: it may need to be sent to Delegates at thier constitutency/holiday addresses. Could the

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/Delegation briefs

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