HC Deb 22 March 1956 vol 550 cc1446-7
17. Mr. Russell

asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries have formally notified their intention of becoming members of the proposed Organisation for Trade Co-operation.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The Agreement setting up the Organisation has been signed by the United Kingdom, India, Belgium, Greece and Haiti. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the Federal Republic of Germany, Chile and Turkey have signed "ad referendum," the Netherlands "subject to ratification" and the United States "subject to approval."

18. Mr. Russell

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated annual cost of maintaining the proposed Organisation for Trade Co-operation; and what will be the United Kingdom's share of this cost.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The present annual cost of running the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is £160,000, of which our share is £23,200. There is no firm estimate of the comparable figures for the Organisation for Trade Co-operation, but it is expected that they will be of the same order, although possibly somewhat larger.