§ Q19. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the minutes of the oral statement he made to the Commonwealth Conference about the cost of Her Majesty's Government's Rhodesian policy.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWill not the Prime Minister reconsider his decision? By so doing he might allow hon. Members to have more light in this rather murky affair.
§ The Prime MinisterThe affair is not murky. Commonwealth Conferences have always been confidential, including during the period when the hon. and learned Gentleman was Parliamentary Private Secretary at No. 10 Downing Street. The mere fact that one statement has leaked out improperly and led to misunderstanding even as to its contents is no reason for breaking the general rule.
§ Mr. LongdenWhy does the Foreign Secretary refuse to give instructions to our permanent representative at the United Nations to raise in the Security Council the report of the expert committee on the fair sharing of the cost of sanctions?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is another question. I will discuss it with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, who is responsible for our relations with the United Nations.