§ 3. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with other Commonwealth Governments regarding the development of the mineral resources of the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.
§ 23. Mr. Cooperasked the President of the Board of Trade the policy of Her Majesty's Government for the development and exploitation of the mineral resources of the British Commonwealth and Dependencies.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWe are anxious that important mineral resources of the Commonwealth and the Dependencies should be developed as far and as fast as is economically feasible. Mineral development was one of the subjects considered at the Commonwealth Economic Conference of 1952. Since then the Commonwealth Economic Committee has made a study of raw materials and expects to report to Governments within a few months.
§ Mr. JohnsonWill my right hon. Friend press on with these studies as far as possible because it seems to be tremendously important for Commonwealth Governments to give a helping hand to enterprise of this kind? Would that not avoid uneconomic development of our resources, and ensure that the greatest possible use is made of them, where it is economic to do so?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think that the report will serve a useful purpose.
§ Mr. BottomleyCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether an interim report will be presented to the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNot by that Committee; it will be separate.