HC Deb 21 October 1954 vol 531 cc1355-7
5. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will instruct the delegation to the forthcoming Conference on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to ensure that no steps will be taken to make the agreement permanent until the provisions banning new or additional Commonwealth preferences are removed therefrom.

12. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking during the forthcoming General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations to retain Imperial Preference and to uphold the right to grant and receive such preferences as are mutually agreed with Empire countries.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)

The question of Commonwealth preferences in relation to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade has been discussed at a number of Commonwealth conferences in the last two years. There has been general recognition by all Commonwealth countries of the value of existing preferences which, under the terms of the General Agreement, we are at liberty to continue.

But it has been, and remains, the considered view of most Commonwealth countries that it would not be desirable or feasible to ask the foreign countries which are parties to the General Agreement to change the present rules contained in Article 1 of the Agreement affecting discrimination against their goods. They prefer, instead, to consider any individual cases on their merits and where appropriate to seek to deal with them by negotiation or waiver in the G.A.T.T. This is, in the circumstances, the policy which Her Majesty's Government propose to pursue.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister aware that his scandalous betrayal of Imperial Preference has already quadrupled emigration from Jamaica to this country since the present Government came into power? Will he please look at page 12 of "Britain Strong and Free" and then hang his head in shame?

Mr. Thorneycroft

If I may say so, the hon. and gallant Gentleman is a little harsh on the Government which negotiated this agreement.

Mr. Wilson

If the right hon. Gentleman is going back in history as far as 1947 he should take it back to 1943 when the first committal was entered into on this question by the Coalition Government. Is he aware that the 1947 agreement was a purely temporary one which assumed that there were to be big changes in United States trading policy which have not yet taken place?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I was not attacking the right hon. Gentleman—I was seeking to defend him from his friends. All I was asked was about present policy and I indicated a policy which has the broad support of the Commonwealth as a whole.

6. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions are being given to the United Kingdom delegation to the Geneva Conference to consider the working of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The considered judgment of the Government, which has the general support of organised industry, is that the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is an essential instrument for maintaining order and fair play in international trade; and it will be our aim to work for the reaffirmation and, where necessary, strengthening of its provisions, in order that it may play its part in further progress towards wider trade and payments. Instructions will be given to our official delegation in this sense.

Mr. Wilson

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will have the good wishes of all on this side in these negotiations, on the basis of what he has just told us, but will he tell us whether, in the discussions with the Commonwealth Governments, there has been a broad agreed Commonwealth line on the forthcoming conference?

Mr. Thorneycroft

There has. It has been fully discussed both in Washington and in London. In London the officials meeting there discuss the matter with a view to reference to their own Governments who, of course, form independent judgments in these matters, but I can say that, broadly speaking, we are pursuing a common line on these main issues.

Mr. Russell

Can the Minister say whether Colonial, as distinct from Commonwealth. Governments are in agreement on this?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Yes, Sir. Colonial Governments have been brought into consultation in this matter. There are special problems in relation to the Colonies, affecting them differently from other sections of the Commonwealth. These matters are under discussion with them at the present time to see whether any action can be taken to meet them.