HC Deb 13 February 1958 vol 582 cc540-1
2 and 3. Mr. John Tilney

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what recommendations in the last two years have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the Commonwealth Economic Committee;

(2) what questions have been referred by him to the Commonwealth Economic Committee during the last two years for examination by that Committee.

Mr. Alport

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the Commonwealth Economic Committee works for all Commonwealth Governments and not for any one in particular. It does not report to or receive instructions from individual Governments. Nor does it make recommendations, since its terms of reference do not include policy questions. Commonwealth Governments, including the Government of the United Kingdom, exercise through their representatives on the Committee a general supervision of the Committee's activities, including the carrying out of any inquiries and the preparation of any reports they may wish it to undertake. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the Committee's Annual Reports for 1955–56 and 1956–57 which give a full account of the Committee's work and Reports in these years.

Mr. Tilney

Does my hon. Friend think that the Commonwealth Governments are really receiving value for the expenditure of nearly £50,000 per annum?

Mr. Alport

The Committee has been in existence for a considerable period of time and during that time has produced a large amount of material on specialised subjects upon which many of the Commonwealth Governments and other organisations rely. We have no doubt that we are getting value for the money which is being paid in respect of this Committee.

Mr. Turton

Arising out of that reply, will the future of this Commonwealth Economic Committee be one of the matters under discussion at the Commonwealth Economic Conference next September?

Mr. Alport

As a result of the meeting of Prime Ministers last year, the Committee has a sub-committee in being investigating the future and possible extention of its activities. It may well be that that would be a matter which would be discussed at a later stage at the Commonwealth Economic Conference.

6. Mr. Chichester-Clark

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the amount of the latest United Kingdom contribution to the funds of the Commonwealth Economic Committee; and what proportion this was of the total amount submitted by Commonwealth Governments.

Mr. Alport

The United Kingdom contribution for the year in question is £12,335, representing a little over 20 per cent. of the total amount contributable by all Commonwealth and Colonial Governments.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Are we really getting value for money? The Committee's Annual Reports make very modest reading indeed.

Mr. Alport

As I have said, I think we are certainly getting value for money. What is more, the other Governments who are our partners in this venture have considered, and do consider, that they are getting value for money. I think that when my hon. Friend sees the Raw Materials Report, which is shortly to be available, he will himself be convinced that value for money is being obtained.