HC Deb 23 October 1968 vol 770 c1278
42. Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proceedings of the United Nations Trade and Development Board meeting held at Geneva in September.

Mr. Dell

This session of the Board was largely devoted to examining the methods of work of the Conference, the Board itself and its principal Committees. The main conclusions were that the sessions of the Conference should in future be shorter and that they should be concentrated on issues of fundamental importance, and that the Board should normally meet once instead of twice a year. The Board also considered the role of U.N.C.T.A.D. in the preparations for the Second United Nations Development Decade.

Mr. Jenkin

Does the Minister accept that the Board's decisions must be regarded as welcome, particularly the decision that the Board should meet only once a year since the meetings appear to occupy a great deal of time? Could he say something about the Board's decision on the recommendation that there should be further international developments in shipping? Does not he feel that this is something on which this country, as a major shipping nation, could press id order to avoid flag discrimination and what appears to be an increasing subsidisation of shipping industries by all major maritime nations?

Mr. Dell

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is important that U.N.C.T.A.D., like other international organisations, should from time to time study the manner in which it conducts its work. We welcome the Board's decisions about its future meetings. The question of shipping is being considered. It is a matter of major importance to this country, and we are taking a part in the discussions currently going on.