§ 7. Mr. Taverneasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, what has been done to follow up Her Majesty's Government's suggestion at the last meeting of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council for consultation about the development plans of each Commonwealth country.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies (Mr. John Tilney)I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor said on 3rd December in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams).
§ Mr. TaverneIs it not desirable to have something rather more permanent and with rather greater continuity than this present Council, with different Ministers attending different conferences? Since it is in the interests of the Commonwealth countries that they should know as much as possible about each other's development plans, is it not possible for Her Majesty's Government to persuade the other members to accept something more permanent?
§ Mr. TilneyThe machinery to be used will depend on the considered views of the other Commonwealth Governments, but I must tell the House that those Governments have so far shown no desire for a change in the existing machinery.