§ 37. Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support was given by the United Kingdom delegate to the recent London meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Working Party of the United Nations to a policy of international price stabilisation for cocoa; and if he will recommend such a policy at the present meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation Cocoa Study Group in Hamburg.
§ Mr. GodberThe Working Party of the Cocoa Study Group which met in London recently was concerned with the technical aspects of price stabilisation and questions of policy did not arise. The United Kingdom delegation was instructed accordingly. The Hamburg discussions will be of the same character.
§ Mr. IrvingIn view of the great damage which has been caused to the economies and revenues of the cocoa-producing countries because of these widespread fluctuations, will the hon. Gentleman not get the British Government to take a new initiative in this matter and to use their influence with the United States of America to bring about some sort of price stabilisation scheme?
§ Mr. GodberI take note of what the hon. Member says, but any question of the stabilisation of the price of a primary commodity is a very difficult and complicated matter.