HC Deb 01 August 1963 vol 682 cc622-3
7. Mr. Jay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what results have so far been achieved in his discussions with other authorities on proposals for increasing international liquidity, and relieving the pressure on the reserves of key currency countries.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I cannot add to what my right hon. Friend told the House in his statement on 30th May and in reply to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 18th July. These discussions, which continue, are of course confidential.

Mr. Jay

Would the Minister agree that this is exceedingly important and that, now that the United States is being forced to defend its balance of payments, it becomes not only more urgent but should be much more easy to make some progress? Will he tell us what the next steps are to be?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The right hon. Member has considerable experience of this matter. I think there is no quarrel between us as to the objectives, but I think his experience will tell him that probably the less said in public about the matter the better.

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