§ 47. Mr. Beswickasked the Prime Minister if he will consider the appointment of a Minister with special responsibility for the preparation of a plan for the expansion and integration of Commonwealth trade, and for the discussion and advocacy of this plan with our Commonwealth partners, in the same way as a Minister has been appointed to consider the problems of European trade.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The expansion of our trade, both in the Commonwealth and in Europe, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. BeswickWhile expressing appreciation of what the Prime Minister has recently done to improve understanding within the Commonwealth, may I ask whether he thinks that there is now a danger that we are taking Commonwealth trade too much for granted? Is there, not at least as good a case for putting as much effort into the integration of trade within the Commonwealth as is currently being done for European trade?
§ The Prime MinisterI have every sympathy with that purpose. My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General is responsible for the conduct of a special group of negotiations which are now taking place. With regard to Commonwealth trade, as the hon. Member knows we have the Commonwealth Economic Conference organised for the autumn. The meetings of the experts will take place quite soon and we hope that the preparatory work will be efficiently done so that there will be an effective conference in the autumn.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes not the Prime Minister appreciate that there is a feeling 541 that no one Minister within the Government is giving sufficient thought, time and energy to the preparation of this economic conference? The impression is that we are not taking it sufficiently seriously. Will not the Prime Minister do something about it?
§ The Prime MinisterOh, yes, we are doing a great deal of work about the conference. Already there have been meetings of one group of officials. The higher group meets in April or May. The work will go on continuously throughout the summer and the full conference will take place in October. I asked my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General to undertake the work because a very large part of one's time is required to do it, but I am not persuaded that to alter the ordinary system of Government is wise in respect of more general matters.
§ Mr. GaitskellMay I ask two questions arising from that answer? Can the Prime Minister tell us whether the Paymaster-General will be associated with the preparations for the Commonwealth talks, so that there may be no danger of misunderstanding or confusion between these two sets of negotiations? Secondly, can the Prime Minister tell us when we are likely to have a statement on the progress of these talks? If it could be made, it might relieve a good deal of the anxiety.
§ The Prime MinisterOne of the reasons I asked my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General to act as an economic adviser to the Treasury is that he can then combine both sets of negotiations and in that sense he is available to the Treasury, which, of course, is deeply interested in the Commonwealth talks. With regard to the progress of what has been done by groups of officials of all the Commonwealth countries—
§ Mr. GaitskellI was referring to Europe.
§ The Prime MinisterThat is another question. We are now on the Commonwealth. I should not like to make a statement on the progress of the work of officials of all these countries without consulting them. The European talks are another question and I will consult my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General as to when he thinks a further statement should be made.