HC Deb 21 March 1957 vol 567 cc524-6
8. Mr. Braine

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has yet received any replies or recommendations from Commonwealth Governments regarding his proposals for economic co-operation and development within the Commonwealth.

7. Mr. Leather

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what replies he has received from Commonwealth countries regarding economic co-operation on underdeveloped territories; and when he will he ready to make a statement.

Mr. Alport

As I said on 21st February in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Sir A. Braithwaite), the conclusions which the Government reach in the light of the views of other Commonwealth Governments, when these are all received, will be communicated to the House. We have asked High Commissioners to approach those Governments whose replies are still outstanding with the object of eliciting early replies. It may still be some weeks before all these are received.

Mr. Braine

Is my hon. Friend aware that the whole House called for a bold and imaginative lead on this subject as long ago as last November? Has my hon. Friend's attention been drawn to recent speeches by Sir Roy Welensky, by the Australian Minister of Labour and by the Australian High Commissioner in London, which all add up to one thing —that some Commonwealth countries want a pooling of resources, a declaration of priorities, and a co-ordinated investment policy? Can my hon. Friend say whether those are the proposals which the Government have in mind?

Mr. Alport

The Government are very well aware, and my noble Friend is very well aware, of the great interest in this subject which exists on both sides of the House, but this is a matter in which we are anxious as far as possible to obtain co-operation with other members of the Commonwealth and they must surely be given proper time to consider a far-reaching and difficult problem.

Mr. Brockway

While appreciating the size of this problem, may I ask the hon. Member whether he thinks he will obtain replies so that some discussion can take place in the House before the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministers this summer?

Mr. Alport

The hon. Member has posed his question with certain assumptions on which I have no comment to make.

Mr. Bottomley

Bearing in mind that the Commonwealth Economic Committee has already done a great deal of work in this direction and that a large amount of work has been carried out, is not it possible to get the Commonwealth Governments to expedite their answers or immediately to call together a meeting of Ministers to consider the matter?

Mr. Alport

It is perfectly true that considerable work has been done on estimating the raw material resources which are available in the Commonwealth, but what is at issue here is a question of financial policy which poses different problems as far as the Commonwealth Governments are concerned in so far as it is a question of providing the capital which is required. This is by no means easy when the majority of the Commonwealth countries are themselves net importers of capital.

Mr. Brockway

On a point of order. Would it be possible to appoint an official interpreter so that we can understand the meaning of the hon. Member's answers?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order.