HC Deb 25 November 1948 vol 458 c1405
45. Mr. W. Shepherd

asked the Prime Minister why the only representative of trade and industry in the delegation to the Five-Power Conference on European Unity at Paris is a representative of the co-operative society.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

With a view to forming an effective and balanced team the British members of the committee in question were chosen on their personal qualifications and not to represent sectional interest.

Mr. Shepherd

Does the Prime Minister mean to imply by that answer that it was impossible to find a man of equal calibre from the ordinary private industries of this country, and why does the Government persist in a narrow, partisan attitude on an issue that ought to have a wide general interest?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member himself is showing a partisan attitude. As a matter of fact, Mr. Gill has a very wide knowledge of the international cooperative movement, which has a very wide distribution throughout the world, and, therefore, he is peculiarly qualified to deal with these international questions.