§ 30. Sir G. Sinclairasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that world commodity agreements represent one of the most useful forms of aid to developing countries; and what he is doing to press for further negotiations on this matter;
§ (2) in view of the need to safeguard Commonwealth export markets when Great Britain enters the European Economic Community, what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development Conference in 1964 to secure world commodity agreements.
§ Mr. JayI agree that world commodity agreements can, in appropriate cases, 2105 be beneficial to developing countries. We are members of all the existing agreements; and we have participated actively in the consultations which we hope will lead to agreements for cocoa and sugar. Our application to join the European Economic Community does not affect our desire to see such agreements concluded.
§ Sir G. SinclairAs Britain has always provided one of the best markets for the developing countries, would the right hon. Gentleman say what proposals he has to make for U.N.C.T.A.D. 2, the conference which starts in February, and, secondly, what preliminary consultations and conferences within the Commonwealth are being held as a preparation for that conference?
§ Mr. JayWe are in consultation with the Commonwealth countries on this matter. The two main proposals which we hope to back at that conference are for what is called supplementary finance on the one hand, and generalised preferences on the other. I hope that we shall get support from the other developed countries.
§ Mr. CorfieldWhen can we expect the promised White Paper from the right hon. Gentleman's Department on the effects on our export trade of joining the Common Market? In view of Press reports that the right hon. Gentleman's colleagues have apparently taken exception to his first draft, will he make an early statement?