HC Deb 10 March 1955 vol 538 cc600-2
30. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade recently concluded at Geneva.

35. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the discussions at Geneva on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 8th March to similar Questions.

Mr. Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say whether these agreements will tend towards a diminution of unemployment in, and emigration from, the West Indies—and particularly Jamaica?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman had better await the publication of the documents, so that he can study them for himself.

Mr. Wilson

We have all seen the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend earlier in the week, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very deep concern is felt by hon. Members on both sides of the House that, although he has produced one useful contribution in relation to the West Indies, he has thrown away many of the protections which this country has had in relation to quantitative restrictions and balance of payments? Will the right hon. Gentleman tell his right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal that when we have had a chance to study these documents we shall certainly want to debate them?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Without accepting any of the implications contained in the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I suggest that he may find it useful to look at the documents before we have a discussion upon them. That is why, as I said in my answer, I propose to publish a White Paper dealing with this matter.

34. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish as a White Paper copies of the speeches made by himself and other spokesmen on behalf of the United Kingdom delegation at the plenary meetings held at the beginning and ending of the Geneva discussions on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

No, Sir. I released to the Press my speech of 8th November last, in plenary session, and this was also printed in the Board of Trade Journal of 13th November.

Mr. Wilson

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Does it mean that the full text of that speech is available, or only a summary?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I think it is the full speech.

Mr. Wilson

If it is the full speech, I think we shall want to study it, because some of us fear not only that some essential British interests have been thrown away in the matter of import restrictions, but that the President took a leading part in suggesting to the Conference that those restrictions should be eased in this way.

Mr. Thorneycroft

My speech has been available to hon. Members quite a long time now.