HC Deb 06 July 1965 vol 715 cc1333-5
20. Mr. Sandys

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when it is proposed to hold the next Ministerial meeting of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Arrangements are in train for the next Ministerial meet- ing of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council to be held towards the end of September in Kingston, Jamaica. It will be the meeting of Finance Ministers that normally takes place each year before the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Mr. Sandys

Can the Minister of State say whether, as usual, trade matters will not be discussed at this meeting? If so, in what way will the proposed Conference of Commonwealth Trade Ministers perform a function which is not normally performed by the regular meetings of Commonwealth Economic Ministers through the Economic Consultative Council?

Mr. Hughes

As the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the Commonwealth Prime Ministers agreed that discussions should be arranged between officials of Commonwealth Governments in the first instance to examine the issues further and prepare for an early meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers. The meeting to which we are referring, and which is to be held in Jamaica, is the normal meeting of the Finance Ministers that precedes the I.B.R.D. and International Monetary Fund meetings.

Mr. Sandys

Is the Minister not aware that these meetings normally deal with trade matters and also that there are regular meetings of Commonwealth Trade Ministers? Can he tell us in what way this new proposal will do something different from what has been done previously through the ordinary and regular channels?

Mr. Hughes

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that as a result of the initiative of the Prime Ministers' meeting, the purpose of the meeting of trade Ministers which will follow the meeting of officials will be to expand Commonwealth trade, a matter upon which I should have thought hon. Members in all quarters of the House would agree.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

What part will the Commonwealth Secretariat play in the preparation of these meetings and what is to happen to the Commonwealth Economic Committee?

Mr. Hughes

The part that the Commonwealth Secretariat will play in the meeting of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council is, as the hon. Gentleman will know, set out in the Agreed Memorandum attached to the official communiqué of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting, but it is rather too early to say whether the Secretariat will be in operation by the date of the September meeting in Kingston, Jamaica.