LONDON -- The leaders of Britain's Overseas Territories will attend the first ever Council of the Territories meeting later this year, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said yesterday.

Mr. Cook told the House of Commons that British Minister for the Territories Baroness Symons will chair the Council, which will meet before this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Mr. Cook also said the review had already led to a series of improvements in the arrangements within the British Government for its relationship with the Dependent Territories.

"The Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short, and I have established parallel structures to deal with the Dependent Territories in our departments. We have established a Ministerial Liaison Committee toensure that our activities and policies are fully coordinated,'' he said.

"Within the Foreign Office, my Noble Friend Baroness Symons has been appointed Minister with specific responsibility for the Dependent Territories.

That responsibility was previously split between a number of geographic departments.

"The changes we have made will ensure a unified Ministerial responsibility for policy on all the Dependent Territories except Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

"In order to improve liaison with the Dependent Territories, as well as within Whitehall, we will be establishing a Council of the Territories, which will include the Chief Minister or equivalent of each Dependent Territory and will be chaired by the Minister for the Territories.

"Its first meeting will be convened later this year in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, in order that the UK can fully reflect their views, particularly in the discussions on the special challenges to small island states.'' Baronees Symons: Council