HC Deb 14 July 1966 vol 731 cc1711-2
Q1. Mr. Wall

asked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on the date and place of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

Q8. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Prime Minister when the next conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers will be held; and where the conference will take place.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I would refer the hon. Members to the Answer I gave on 5th July to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard).

Mr. Wall

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many Prime Ministers or Heads of State have agreed to attend this Conference? In view of his undertaking at the last conference, six months ago, that he would settle with Mr. Smith in weeks rather than months, does he expect to reach a settlement before the next conference?

The Prime Minister

I do not know how many Prime Ministers, Heads of Government, will be coming on the date fixed, which was the date generally most convenient for the majority of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, having regard to their Parliamentary commitments. In regard to the last conference, it certainly is a fact that our hopes were not realised, but I have nothing to add to the last statement which I made about the situation in Rhodesia.

Mr. Taylor

Will the Prime Minister be raising at the conference the proposal, made as a matter of urgency in the spring of 1964, for a Commonwealth preference in the awarding of civil engineering and public works contracts, and what has happened to this idea?

The Prime Minister

This was raised by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade at the recent Commonwealth Trade Ministers' Conference. A report from that conference will be made to the Prime Ministers' Conference so that we will be able to pursue the matter further there.