§ Q3. Mr. Tilneyasked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Commonwealth Ministers at their forthcoming meeting to consider the need to reduce air fares between Commonwealth countries.
§ The Prime MinisterI think that Commonwealth Governments will prefer to await the report by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Working Party on this matter.
§ Mr. TilneyThe Commonwealth is very scattered. Does not the Prime Minister agree that many of the developing countries in it hope to improve their standard of living by an increase in the tourist trade, but their efforts are often vitiated by the cost of getting from one Commonwealth country to another?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman is right. This is one of the principal considerations that led the Commonwealth meeting about tourism to set up the working party, and, under the leadership of the Commonwealth Secretariat, to consider the possibility of introducing lower air fares between Commonwealth countries to help develop tourism. I do not think that tourism is the only motive. All of us desire more frequent interchanges, even if not for holiday purposes, between Britain and other Commonwealth countries.