Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/orig BACKGR/BNOT0109.TXT

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National Trade Data Bank
ITEM ID     : ST BNOTES UK
DATE        : Oct 28, 1994

AGENCY      : U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PROGRAM     : BACKGROUND NOTES
TITLE       : Background Notes - UNITED KINGDOM

Source key      : ST
Program key     : ST BNOTES
Update sched.   : Occasionally
Data type       : TEXT
End year        : 1992
Date of record  : 19941018
Keywords 3      :
Keywords 3      : | UNITED KINGDOM

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BACKGROUND NOTES:  UNITED KINGDOM

OFFICIAL NAME:  UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
NORTHERN IRELAND

PROFILE

Geography
Area: 244,111 sq. km. (94,251 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Oregon.
Cities: Capital-London (metropolitan pop. about 6.7 million. Other
cities-Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bradford,
Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Belfast. Terrain: 30% arable, 50%
meadow and pasture, 12% waste or urban, 7% forested, 1% inland
water. Climate: Generally mild and temperate; weather is subject to
frequent changes but to few extremes of temperature.


People
Nationality: Noun-Briton(s). Adjective-British. Population (1989): 58
million. Annual growth rate: 1%. Ethnic groups: British, West Indian,
South Asian. Religions: Church of England, Roman Catholic,
Presbyterian. Languages: English, Welsh, Gaelic. Education: Years
compulsory-12. Attendance-nearly 100%. Literacy-99%. Health: Infant
mortality rate-13.3/1,000. Life expectancy-males 70 yrs., females 76
yrs. Work force (about 28 million in 1988): Agriculture-1.7%.
Manufacturing and engineering-26.4%. Construction-4.8%. Mining
and energy-3.1%. Services-64%.


Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: Unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice.

Branches: Executive-monarch (chief of state), prime minister (head
of government), cabinet. Legislative-bicameral Parliament: House of
Commons, House of Lords. Judicial-magistrates' courts, county
courts, high courts, appellate courts, House of Lords.
Subdivisions: Municipalities, counties, parliamentary constituencies,
province of Northern Ireland, and Scottish regions.

Political parties: Conservative; Labor; Social and Liberal Democrats
(SLD); Social Democrats (SDP); and various smaller parties including
the Greens and parties of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Suffrage: British subjects and citizens of the Irish Republic resident
in the UK, 18 yrs. or older.

Government budget (1989): Expenditures- $283 billion. Revenue-$293
billion.

Flag: The red, white, and blue Union Jack combines crosses of the
patron saints of England (St. George), Scotland (St. Andrew), and
Ireland (St. Patrick).

Economy
GDP (1989): $843 billion.  Annual growth rate (1989): 23%.  Per
capita GDP (1989): $14,535.  Avg. inflation rate (1989): 9.2%.

Natural resources: Coal, oil, gas (North Sea).
Agriculture (1.5% of GDP 1988): Products-cereals, livestock, livestock
products, fish.

Industry (34.4% of GDP): Types-steel, heavy engineering and metal
manufacturing, textiles, motor vehicles and aircraft, construction,
electronics, chemicals.

Trade (1989): Exports (f.o.b.)-$153 billion: machinery and transport
equipment, petroleum, manufactures, chemicals.  Major markets-EC,
US, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Switzerland, South Africa.
Imports (c.i.f.)-$198 billion: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, foodstuffs, petroleum, chemicals.  Major suppliers-EC,
US, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.

Exchange rate (1989 average):
1 UK  =US $1.64
Fiscal year: April 1-March 31.

Membership in International Organizations
UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), European Community (EC),
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
INTELSAT.


PEOPLE
In 1989, the United Kingdom's population was estimated at 58
million-the fourth largest in Europe after the Soviet Union,   Germany,
and Italy-and its population density is one of the highest in the world.
Almost one-third of the population lives in England's prosperous and
fertile southeast and is predominantly urban and suburban.

The UK's high literacy rate (99%) is attributable to the introduction of
public primary education in 1870 and secondary education in 1900.
Education is mandatory from ages 5 through 16.

The Church of England (Episcopal) is the largest church, but virtually
all religions and sects found in the world are represented in the UK.

A group of islands close to continental Europe, the United Kingdom
has been subject to many invasions and migrations, especially from
Scandinavia and the continent, including Roman occupation for
several centuries.  The contemporary Briton is descended mainly
from the varied ethnic stocks that settled there before the end of the
11th century.

Under the Normans-Scandinavian Vikings who had settled in
northern France-the pre-Celtic, Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and
Norse influences were blended into the present Briton. Although the
Celtic languages persist to a small degree in Northern Ireland, Wales,
and Scotland, the predominant language has long been English, a
blend of Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French.

HISTORY
The Roman invasion of Britain in BC 55 and its subsequent
incorporation into the Roman Empire stimulated development and
brought more active contacts with the rest of Europe. As Rome's
strength declined, the country was exposed to invasion, including the
pivotal invasions of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in the fifth and
sixth centuries AD, until the Norman conquest in 1066. Norman rule
effectively ensured Britain's safety from further invasion and
stimulated the development of characteristic British institutions.
Among these institutions are a political, administrative, cultural, and
economic center in London; the development of a separate but
established church; a system of common law; distinctive and
distinguished university education; and representative government.


Union
Both Wales and Scotland were independent kingdoms which fiercely
resisted English rule.  The English conquest of Wales succeeded in
1282 under Edward I, and the Statute of Rhuddlan established
English rule 2 years later. To appease the Welsh, Edward's son (later
Edward II), who had been born in Wales, was made Prince of Wales
in 1301. The tradition of bestowing this title on the eldest son of the
British monarch continues today. An act of 1536 completed the
political and administrative union of England and Wales.

England and Scotland were united under one crown in 1603, when
James VI of Scotland succeeded his cousin Elizabeth I as James I
of England. In the ensuing 100 years, strong religious and political
differences divided the kingdoms. Finally, in 1707, England and
Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain with the Union
Jack as the national flag.

The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1170 began centuries of
strife. Successive English kings sought to impose their will on the
Irish, whose cause was finally defeated in the early 17th century,
when large-scale settlement of the north from Scotland and England
also began. After this defeat, Ireland was subjected, with varying
degrees of success, to control and regulation by Britain. The
legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was completed on
January 1, 1801, under the name of the United Kingdom. However,
armed struggle for political independence continued sporadically into
the 20th century. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 established the Irish
Free State, which left the Commonwealth and became a republic
after World War II. Six northern, predominantly Protestant Irish
counties have remained part of the United Kingdom.


British Expansion and Empire
Begun initially to support William the Conqueror's (c. 1029-1087)
holdings in France, Britain's policy of active involvement in European
affairs endured for several hundred years. By the end of the 14th
century, foreign trade, originally based on wool exports to Europe,
had emerged as a cornerstone of national policy. The foundations of
sea power were gradually laid to protect British trade and open up
new routes.  Defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 firmly established
Britain as a major sea power. There-after, its interests outside Europe
grew steadily.

Attracted by the spice trade, British mercantile interests spread first
to the Far East. In search of an alternate route to the Spice Islands,
John Cabot reached the North American continent in 1498. Sir Walter
Raleigh organized the first, short-lived British colony in Virginia in
1584, and permanent British settlement began in 1607 at Jamestown,
Virginia.

During the next two centuries, Britain extended its influence abroad
and consolidated its political development at home. The territorial
foundation of the 20th-century British Empire, minus parts of Africa
and India, had already been laid by the time of the Boston Tea Party
in 1773.

Great Britain's industrial revolution greatly strengthened its ability to
oppose Napoleonic France. By the end of the Napoleonic wars in
1815, the United Kingdom was the foremost European power and its
navy ruled the seas.  Peace in Europe allowed the British to focus
their interests on more remote parts of the world and during this
period, the British Empire reached its zenith. British colonies,
effectively managed, contributed to the United Kingdom's
extraordinary economic growth and strengthened its voice in world
affairs. Even as the United Kingdom became more imperial abroad,
it continued to develop and broaden its democratic institutions at
home.
20th Century
By the time of Queen Victoria's death in 1901 other nations, including
the United States and Germany, had developed their own industries;
the United Kingdom's comparative economic advantage had
lessened, and the ambitions of its rivals had grown.  The losses and
destruction of World War I, the depression of the l930s, and decades
of relatively slow growth made it difficult for the United Kingdom to
maintain its preeminent international position of the previous century.

Britain's control over its empire loosened during the interwar period.
Ireland, with the exception of six northern counties, broke away from
the United Kingdom in 1921. Nationalism became stronger in other
parts of the empire, particularly in India and Egypt. In 1926, the
United Kingdom, completing a process begun a century earlier,
granted Australia, Canada, and New Zealand complete autonomy
within the empire.
As such, they became charter members of the British
Commonwealth of Nations, an informal but closely knit association
that succeeded the empire. After 1947, the remainder of the kingdom
was dismantled. Most of its former colonies now belong to the
Commonwealth.1
Today, almost all of Britain's former colonies have become
independent members of the Commonwealth. Although weakened
by economic and political nationalism, the Commonwealth offers the
United Kingdom a voice in matters concerning many developing
countries.  In addition, the Commonwealth helps to preserve  many
institutions deriving from British experience and models, such as
parliamentary democracy, in those countries.


GOVERNMENT
The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution.  The
equivalent body of law is based on statute, common law, and
"traditional rights."  Changes may come about formally through new
acts of Parliament, informally through the acceptance of new
practices and usage, or by judicial precedents.  Although Parliament
has the theoretical power to make or unmake any law, in actual
practice, the weight of 700 years of tradition restrains arbitrary
actions.

Executive government rests nominally with the monarch but actually
is exercised by a committee of ministers (cabinet) traditionally
selected from among the members of the House of Commons and,
to a lesser extent, the House of Lords. The prime minister is the
leader of the majority party in the Commons, and the government is
dependent on its support.

 Parliament represents the entire country and can legislate for the
whole or for any constituent part or combination of parts. The
maximum parliamentary term is 5 years, but the prime minister may
ask the monarch to dissolve Parliament and call a general election
at any time. The focus of legislative power is the 650-member House
of Commons, which has sole jurisdiction over finance. The House of
Lords, although shorn of most of its powers, can still review, amend,
or delay temporarily any bills except those relating to the budget.
Only a few of the 1,200 members of the House of Lords attend its
sessions regularly. The House of Lords has more time than the
House of Commons to pursue one of its more important
functions-debating public issues.

The judiciary is independent of the legislative and executive branches
but cannot review the constitutionality of legislation.

The separate identity of each of the UK's constituent parts also is
reflected in governmental structure. Welsh affairs are handled at the
national level by a cabinet minister (the Secretary of State for Wales)
with the advice of a broadly representative council for Wales.
Scotland continues, as before the union, to employ different systems
of law (Roman-French), education, local government, judiciary, and
national church (the Presbyterian Church of Scotland instead of the
Church of England). In addition, most domestic matters are handled
by separate departments grouped under a Secretary of State for
Scotland, who also is a cabinet member.

Although the British government retained ultimate responsibility,
Northern Ireland had its own parliament and prime minister until it
was suspended in March 1972.  Then, in response to deteriorating
security and political conditions in the province, direct rule from
London was established through a Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland.  Northern Ireland is represented by 17 members in the
House of Commons. The six counties of Northern Ireland comprise
about 900,000 Protestants and 600,000 Catholics.

On November 15, 1985, the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Ireland signed the Anglo-Irish agreement to diminish the divisions in
Northern Ireland and to achieve peace and stability.  In the
agreement, both governments affirm that any change in Northern
Ireland's status will come about only with the consent of a majority
of its people. An intergovernmental conference was established,
comprised of representatives from both governments and concerned
with the problems in the north and the relations between the two
parts of the island.  The conference deals with political, security,
legal, and cross-border cooperation issues and provides for possible
future devolution of responsibility for some matters within Northern
Ireland.  The British and Irish governments also cooperate in
promoting economic and social development   in the unstable areas
and are seeking international support for this effort.  As of 1989, the
United States has given or pledged contributions totaling $138 million
to the International Fund for Ireland.  The fund provides grants and
loans to businesses to improve the economy, redress inequalities of
employment opportunity, and improve cross-border business and
commercial ties.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government-elected in May 1979,
and re-elected in June 1983 and June 1987-dominates the British
political scene.  The Conservatives, or Tories, now hold 375 seats-for
a commanding 100-vote majority-in the 650-member House of
Commons (in addition, the non-voting Speaker of the House is a
Conservative member of Parliament).  In its first two terms, the
Thatcher government's program included efforts to curb the power
of the unions, reduce inflation, and privatize nationally owned
industries.  The third term program includes reform of local
government finance by replacing "rates" (essentially real estate taxes)
with a universal community charge (dubbed the "poll tax"),
educational reform, National Health Service and legal system
reforms, and privatization of electricity and water.

The Labor Party holds 228 seats in the House of Commons.  Under
Neil Kinnock, the official leader of the opposition, the Labor Party has
challenged most government initiatives, running in 1983 and 1987 on
platforms calling for renationalization of certain industries, unilateral
British nuclear disarmament, and greater government spending on
social programs and the National Health Service.
Following its third consecutive general election defeat, the Labor
Party embarked on a major review of its policies, which  resulted in
a  move away from unilateral nuclear disarmament.
The centrist Alliance, composed of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
and the Liberal Party, won 23% of the vote in the 1987 general
election.  Because of the UK's single-member-constituency,
winner-take-all voting system, however, the Alliance won only 22
seats in the House of Commons.

Following the election, Liberal Party leaders and some SDP leaders
called for a formal merger of the two parties.  Other Social
Democrats, under SDP leader David Owen, opted to remain
independent.  In 1988, the Alliance was dissolved, and the
"mergerites" formed a new party, the Social and Liberal Democrats
(SLD).  It holds 19 seats in Parliament.  The separate SDP under
Owen has three members of Parliament.  Both the SLD and the SDP
favor the introduction of proportional representation.  Proposals have
been floated for an electoral arrangement between the SLD and the
SDP whereby only one of the parties would offer a candidate in each
constituency.  No agreement has yet been reached.

Of the remaining 24 seats in the House of Commons, Northern
Ireland parties fill 17, the Scottish nationalists 4 (including a seat
taken from Labor in a by-election), and the Welsh nationalists 3.

The next general election must be held by June 1992.


ECONOMY
The United Kingdom is one of the largest European economies and
one of the world's great trading powers.  As an international financial
center, London is as yet unrivaled.

Although economic growth increased markedly in the 25 years
following the end of World War II, the rate of growth was much
slower than that of most other European industrial countries.
Between 1950 and 1970, the United Kingdom dropped from having
the highest per capita income in Europe to being ahead of only
Ireland and Italy among the European Community (EC) countries
when the United Kingdom joined in 1973.  During the 1970s, the
economic growth rate slowed even more, as did those of most
industrial countries.
From the depths of the 1979-81 recession, the British economy has
made some impressive gains.  The current expansion, starting in
1981, is the longest period of continuous economic growth in the last
30 years.  Inflation averaged more than 14% per year during
1979-81.  In 1986, it was 3%, but 9% in 1989.  During the recession,
industrial production fell by almost 10% but has since recovered.
Real economic growth in 1989 was 2.3%, depending on the measure
used.

In some respects, however, the UK economy has not completely
recovered from the recession of the early 1980s.  The unemployment
rate, which stood at just over 5% in 1979, grew to more than 13% in
1986.  It is now 6.5%.  Although manufacturing output dropped 14%
from 1979 to 1981, by 1987 it had fully recovered and continues to
grow rapidly.

Strong domestic demand and rapid growth in income has
contributed to  a trade deficit.  Exports of goods and services grew
slowly in 1989-by 5% on a volume basis-while imports have grown
strongly by more than 8%.  As a result, the current account is in
deficit by more than $34 billion.

The Conservatives' economic goals are to reduce the role of the
government in the economy, moderate the growth of the money
supply, and remove structural rigidities in the proper functioning of
markets.  The government has privatized most large state-owned
companies, including British Telecom, British Aerospace, Rover, and
British Gas.  The electricity and water companies are now being
privatized.
The United Kingdom and the United States have important economic
ties.  Britain is the United States' largest trading partner in the EC.
Next to Canada, it is the largest recipient of US foreign direct
investment.  Britain is the largest source of foreign direct investment
in the United States with nearly $100 billion invested there at the end
of 1989.


Agriculture and Industry
Agriculture in the United Kingdom is intensive, highly mechanized,
and efficient by European standards but produces only about 57%
of Britain's food requirements because of climatic factors.  Only 2.3%
of the work force is engaged in farming. Livestock and dairy farming
account for the greater part of production.

British industry is a mixture of publicly and privately owned firms.
Several important industries are publicly owned-steel, railroads, coal
mining, shipbuilding, and certain utilities.  Since 1979, the British
Government has sold off a number of companies as part of its
privatization program.

Government agencies primarily responsible for economic policy are
the Treasury and the Departments of Trade and Industry, Energy,
and Employment. The Confederation of British Industry is the central
body representing British industry, serving as an important
communications channel between government and industry.


Energy Sources
The United Kingdom is an energy-rich nation with large coal
resources, although much of that is now high cost.  It also has
significant reserves of oil and gas in the North Sea.  Primary energy
production accounts for about 6% of the United Kingdom's gross
domestic product, among the highest of any industrial nation.

The rapid development of North Sea oil converted the United
Kingdom in 10 years (1973-83) from an importer of almost all of its
petroleum requirements into a major oil producer-about 2.2 million
barrels per day (b/d) in 1989, and a net exporter-just under 1 million
b/d.

Although North Sea production may now have reached its peak, the
area should be an important source of continued production and
new discoveries for many years.  In fact, some studies suggest that
in the mid-1990s Britain could be producing more than 2 million b/d.
US oil and oil-service companies actively participate in the North Sea
oil industry and consider the United Kingdom an attractive
environment for future investment.


Labor
In September 1988, the United Kingdom had an employed workforce
of 22 million, plus 3 million self-employed, out of a total working
population of 28 million.  The major change in the British labor
market in the 1980s has been the growth in female employment,
particularly part time.  Such employment grew by more than 1 million
between 1983 and 1989, and self-employment for women grew by
a further 250,000.  In contrast, total male employment increased by
just 2,000 during the same period.  Of the new jobs taken by
women, 650,000 involved part-time work, and the majority were
created in service industries.

By late 1989, 10.9 million workers were members of a trade union.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), the major trade union federation,
accounted for 9.25 million workers organized in 87 independent
unions.  The remaining 1.29 million workers belonged to 248 small
associations.   The total unionized population has fallen from a 1978
figure of 13.3 million mirroring the decline of traditional industries.
Although women make up 46% of the work force, they are
predominantly employed in industries with a low level of trade union
activity.  As a result, only 30% of the members of TUC-affiliated
unions are female.  However, four UK unions are led by women,
including the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades which has
200,000 members.  Two unions that have reversed the general trend
of membership decline-the banking, insurance, and finance union
and the union of shop, distributive, and allied trades-are recruiting
among a predominantly female work force.

More than 50% of TUC-affiliated union members contribute to
political funds that are channeled mainly into the Labor Party.
Unions affiliated to the Labor Party may sponsor members of
Parliament, take part in the selection of candidates, and wield "bloc"
votes at the party conference.  In 1985, legislation forced the unions
to poll their members on the funds' use. Ballots taken since then
have shown an overwhelming majority in favor of the retention of
political funds.

Unemployment in the United Kingdom rose steadily between 1975
and 1986.  In January 1987, it peaked at 3.3 million (12%) before
seasonal adjustment but gradually declined to 7.7 million (6.5%) by
December 1989.  More than 40% of those had been unemployed for
more than a year.  Unemployment levels vary regionally:  Northern
Ireland, with a current unemployment rate of 17%, has a
longstanding history of high unemployment, while the more
prosperous southeast region, around London, had a 1989 rate of
only 4%.  Scotland (8.2%), northwest England (10.8%), northern
England (11%), Wales (10.5%), and the Yorkshire area (9.5%) have
unemployment rates above the national average and are areas
where traditional industrial activities (e.g., coal mining, steel
manufacturing, and shipbuilding) have declined.
British industrial relations in the 1970s and 1980s have reflected the
character of the trade unions' relationship with the government.  A
prominent objective of the Conservative Party was to reform industrial
relations and make trade unions more accountable to their members.
Since 1979, labor legislation has been introduced to limit the
immunity from a court proceeding that a trade union traditionally has
enjoyed unless it conducts a secret ballot before going on strike.
The legislation also provides greater protection for individual workers
in disputes with their unions, requires elections for union executives,
and forces unions to poll their members on the retention of political
levies.  The trade unions disagree with much of the legislation and
wish to have it amended.
During 1984-85, Britain lost a substantial number of working days
through strikes.  The longest running dispute occurred in the mining
industry when the National Union of Mine-workers held a strike for
more than 1 year to oppose scheduled mine closures.  Eventually,
the strike was defeated when miners returned to work without a
settlement and tacitly accepted the job losses.  The bitterness
generated by the lengthy dispute will continue to influence labor
affairs for years to come.  During the past several years, there has
been a considerable drop in the number of days lost through strikes,
which has been attributed in part to the high unemployment
extending through 1988.  Concern for job security made many
workers cautious about risking their jobs-caution reinforced by the
1986 dismissal of 5,000 striking printworkers.  Legislation that placed
restrictions on strike activity and imposed severe penalties upon
unions disregarding these restrictions, also helped reduce the
incidence of strikes.


Foreign Assistance
UK aid to developing countries includes loans and grants, technical
assistance, budgetary support, and contributions to international
agencies that provide financial aid and technical assistance.

Although the British aid program is global, Commonwealth countries
receive special attention.  The major recipients in recent years have
been Africa and South Asia, particularly India, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka,
Tanzania, Pakistan, Sudan, and Kenya.  A growing share is
channeled through multilateral institutions.
Total net official development assistance in 1989 was $2 billion, or
0.24% of GDP. The British aid program is administered by the
Overseas Development Administration, an agency of the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.


DEFENSE
The prime minister and the cabinet, under the ultimate control of
Parliament, have supreme responsibility for defense matters. The
secretary of state for defense and two deputies, the ministers of state
for defense, report to the prime minister. The chief of the defense
staff is the senior military officer.

The United Kingdom is a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO).  The United Kingdom is second only to the
United States in NATO in total defense expenditure.
Britain is one of NATO's major European maritime powers. The
57,000-member Royal Navy is in charge of its independent strategic
nuclear arm-Polaris missile submarines to be replaced by Trident II.
Defense of US reinforcement and resupply of Europe is one of the
Royal Navy's major tasks. In addition, the 7,700-member Royal
Marines provide commando units for amphibious assault and for
specialist reinforcement forces in and beyond the NATO area.

The army, with a strength of 156,000, including 5,700 women,
provides for the ground defense of the United Kingdom through its
participation in NATO. The British Army of the Rhine, a major element
of NATO's forward defense strategy, has 52,000 soldiers stationed
in Germany.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has about 90,000 men and women in
uniform and receives the largest share of modern equipment.


FOREIGN  RELATIONS
The United Kingdom is a leading member of NATO and of the United
Nations where it is a permanent member of the Security Council.  It
has historic global ties, but, as its commitments have been reduced
since World War II, the United Kingdom has sought a closer
association with Europe.  It entered the EC on January 1, 1973, and
has played a leading role in reactivating the Western European
Union.  Britain is represented by 81 directly elected members of the
European Parliament (45 Conservative, 32 Labor, and 4 Northern
Ireland and Scotland seats).

Under Prime Minister Thatcher's leadership, the United Kingdom has
been a strong advocate within NATO of a continuing reliance on a
strong defense and a realistic assessment of the security situation as
the indispensable bases for a successful dialogue with the East.  The
United Kingdom took a leading role in helping implement NATO's
1979 dual-track decision, which led to the 1987 Intermediate-Range
Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The United Kingdom frequently has
sought to facilitate peaceful resolution of conflicts in various areas of
the world.


US-UK RELATIONS
The United Kingdom is one of the United States' closest allies,
enjoying a so-called special relationship, and British foreign policy
emphasizes close coordination with the United States. Bilateral
cooperation reflects the common language, ideals, and democratic
practices of the two nations. The relations were strengthened by the
UK's alliance with the United States during both World Wars, the
Korean conflict, and now during the conflict in the gulf.

The United Kingdom and the United States continually consult on
foreign policy issues and global problems and share major foreign
and security policy objectives.


Principal Government Officials
Head of State-Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister-Margaret Thatcher
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs-Douglas
Hurd
Ambassador to the US-Sir Anthony Acland
Ambassador to the UN-Sir David Hannay

G-7 Economic Summit 1990
President Bush hosted the 16th annual G-7 summit for the leaders
of the major industrialized democracies-Canada, the Federal Republic
of Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the
United States-and the president of the European Community, in
Houston, Texas, July 9-11, 1990.

The Houston economic summit was held against the backdrop of
movement toward democracy and freer markets in many parts of the
world, including elections in Eastern Europe and Nicaragua,
increasing momentum toward German unification, and political
reforms in the Soviet Union.  The summit leaders agreed on most
international economic and political issues, but intense discussions
were needed on agricultural subsidies in the Uruguay Round of
multilateral trade negotiations, economic assistance to the Soviet
Union, and global warming before consensus could be reached.


Economic Accomplishments
--  Agreement on progressive reductions in internal and external
support and protection of agriculture and on a framework for
conducting agricultural negotiations in order to conclude  the
Uruguay Round by December 1990.


--  Request to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World
Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development  (EBRD) to undertake a study of the Soviet economy,
to make recommendations, and to establish the criteria under which
Western economic assistance could effectively support Soviet
reforms by the end of 1990.


--  Support for aid to Central and East European nations that are
firmly committed to political and economic reform, including freer
markets, and encouragement of foreign private investment in those
countries and improved markets for their exports by means of trade
and investment agreements.


--  Pledge to begin negotiations, to be completed by 1992, on a
global forest convention to protect the world's forests.


Political Accomplishments
--  Promotion of democracy throughout the world by assisting in the
drafting of laws, advising in fostering independent media, establishing
training programs, and expanding exchange programs.


--  Endorsement of the maintenance of an effective international
nuclear nonproliferation system, including adoption of safeguards
and nuclear export control measures, and support for a complete
ban on chemical weapons.

Principal US Officials
Ambassador-Henry E. Catto
Minister (Deputy Chief of Mission)-Ronald E. Woods
Minister for Economic Affairs-Ann R. Berry
Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs-Bruce G. Burton
Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs-Norbert J. Krieg
Minister-Counselor for Administrative Affairs-John Condayan
Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs-James L. Blow
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs (USIS)-Charles Courtney
Counselor for Labor Affairs-Lester P. Slezak
Counselor for Scientific Affairs-James B. Devine

TRAVEL NOTES
Clothing: Fall and winter clothing is needed from about September
through April; spring and summer clothing is useful the rest of the
year.

Health: Good medical facilities are available. Living conditions are
generally excellent, with no unusual health hazards.

Telecommunications: London and nearly all UK localities have an
automatic dial-through telephone system. Cities in the United States
and Western Europe also may be reached by direct dialing. Internal
and international services are efficient. London is five time zones
ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Transportation: The United Kingdom is a crossroads for international
aviation. Rail, air, and bus transportation in the United Kingdom is
excellent, and travel between all points is quick and easy. Rental cars
are available. Traffic moves on the  left.

Holidays:
England
Good FridayApr. 13
Easter MondayApr. 16
May Day1st Mon. in May
Spring Holiday4th Mon. in May
Summer Bank Holiday4th Mon. in Aug.

Christmas DayDec. 25
Boxing Day.Dec. 26

Northern Ireland
St. Patrick's DayMar. 17
Good FridayApr. 13
Easter MondayApr. 16
Easter TuesdayApr. 17
May Day1st Mon. in May
Orangemen's Day2nd Fri. in July
Summer Bank Holiday4th Mon. in Aug.

Christmas DayDec. 25
Boxing DayDec. 26

Scotland
Bank HolidayJan. 2
Good FridayApr. 13
Easter MondayApr. 16
Victoria Day3rd Mon. in May
Bank Holiday1st Mon. in Aug.

Autumn Holiday3rd Mon. in Sept.

Christmas DayDec. 25
Boxing DayDec. 26

Published by the United States Department  of State --  Bureau of
Public Affairs  -- Office  of  Public Communication  --  Washington,
DC  --      October 1990  --  Editor:  Susan Holly -- Department of
State Publication   8099 --  Background Notes Series
  This material is in the public domain and may  be reprinted without
permission; citation of this source is appreciated. For sale by the
Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC  20402.