§ Q1. Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with coordination between the overseas aid programme and other fiscal and trade policies; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)Yes, Sir. All aspects of Government policy towards the less developed countries are the subject of consultation between the Ministers concerned.
§ Mr. WhitakerWould my right hon. Friend not agree that the worsening economic position of the under-developed world dwarfs our own economic difficulties and that there is no point in our giving aid with one hand and then shutting out under-developed countries' products with the other?
§ The Prime MinisterI had some difficulty in hearing all of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but I got his final words. We are all concerned, and have been for many years, about the effect on the purchasing power and standard of living of the developing countries when, for example, commodity prices fall. That is why successive Governments in this country have tried to get a more sane commodity policy in international affairs.
§ Mr. RidsdaleAs this country is in such need of overseas aid, will not the Prime Minister give way to a Government who will inspire national confidence and —[Interruption.]
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman is making a number of assumptions about a subject on which I gather a Question is to be put to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer this afternoon.
§ Mr. OgdenWill my right hon. Friend assure the House that increasing efforts will be made to channel our aid through the multilateral agencies of the United Nations rather than through individual bilateral agreements?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, and again this has been the policy of successive Governments in this country, so far as has been possible. However, we should not underrate the enormous importance of some of our bilateral aid programmes, particularly to Commonwealth countries.
§ Mr. HeathWill the right hon. Gentleman call a conference of Commonwealth Finance and Trade Ministers before the next U.N.C.T.A.D. conference in 1968 so that the Commonwealth can work together in this sphere?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware that these questions were discussed at the September conference of Commonwealth Finance Minis- 626 ters. I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I will bear his suggestion in mind. He will know that a goodwill mission of high-level representatives of six developing countries, led by Mr. Jayawardene of Ceylon, is touring advanced countries. He will be in London tomorrow and I shall be discussing these matters with him.