HC Deb 06 March 1952 vol 497 c645
41. Mr. J. Grimond

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the composition of the group studying Commonwealth development; and when it is expected that it will report.

Mr. Foster

No doubt the hon. Member is referring to the Working Party on Development set up by the Commonwealth Finance Ministers, which met under my chairmanship. The Working Party consisted of officials of Commonwealth Governments; it has, on the completion of a first series of meetings, submitted an interim report for the consideration of Commonwealth Governments.

Mr. Grimond

Do I understand, then, that this is the only joint body which is keeping the financial state of the Commonwealth under review; that it has now ceased to sit; and that there is now no body charged with the duty of keeping these financial considerations under review?

Mr. Foster

There were two bodies set up under the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference and those bodies will sit again when some of the results of the interim report have been communicated back to the Working Party.