HC Deb 23 July 1964 vol 699 cc668-9
12. Mrs. Castle

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will publish a White Paper on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Mr. Heath

Yes, Sir. A White Paper is being published today.

Mrs. Castle

I thank the Secretary of State for that reply, but does he not agree that it is a pity we have had to wait five weeks for this information on a very important matter? Does he not think that the House ought to have had an opportunity before the Summer Recess to study the attitude of Her Majesty's Government on this subject. In view of the fact that there are to be continuing discussions in the autumn, can he now announce what Her Majesty's Government's intentions are in regard to increased contributions to the Special Fund and the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance?

Mr. Heath

I am as anxious as the hon. Lady is that there should be the fullest discussion of the achievements of the Geneva Conference and, in particular, of the work of the British delegation there. This White Paper contains the Final Act, together with the two speeches I made to the conference. The Final Act was given to us by the secretariat of the conference only on 5th July, and it consists of 200 pages in the White Paper. I hope, therefore, that the hon. Lady will agree that getting out such a very large White Paper containing the whole of these documents has been very speedy indeed. As regards the second part of the hon. Lady's supplementary question, I made an announcement in Geneva about the additional contributions. I cannot tell her at the moment how much they will be; that will be announced in the autumn.