§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a decision has been reached concerning the proposed world commodities centre in London.
§ Mr. LuardYes. The Government are prepared in principle to support the establishment of a world commodities centre for international commodity organisations in London. In addition to the seven commodity organisations already based here, we envisage that the centre should be capable of accommodating new international commodity bodies as they are negotiated, and in due course the common fund which we hope will be located here. Discussions with representatives of the commodity organisations will be resumed shortly.
The final decision on the commitment of public funds will be taken after the General Election, and in the light of the discussions with the commodity organisations.
This subject will in future be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.