HC Deb 10 November 1975 vol 899 cc918-20

37. Mr. Russell Johnston asked the Minister for Overseas Development when he next expects to meet EEC Overseas Development Ministers.

40. Mr. Rathbone asked the Minister for Overseas Development what consultations he has had with other EEC Overseas Development Ministers prior to the six-Power meetings to be held in France later this week.

Mr. Prentice

No decision has yet been taken on the date of the next meeting of the Development Council, and there have been no consultations between EEC Development Ministers specifically to prepare for the economic summit meeting. But relations with developing countries are one of the items on the agenda for the summit, and many of the issues arising have at various times been discussed by EEC Development Ministers or Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Johnston

Does the Minister agree, notwithstanding the Written Answer to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Liberal Party by the Prime Minister on 13th October, welcoming the Kissinger proposals at the World Food Conference, that those proposals have been undermined by the USSR grain deal, which to many of us ran totally contrary to the ethos of the Rome Conference? Will he say what attitude to the follow-up to Rome he will recommend to his Community colleagues?

Mr. Prentice

I think that the follow-up to the World Food Conference has been disappointing in many ways, although one of the most important initiatives was taken at the World Food Council in June, when my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary announced a considerable extension of British fertiliser aid. That initiative gave a lead to other countries.

I shall be attending the FAO conference later this week, and I hope to draw attention to the urgency of a much more comprehensive follow-up to the World Food Conference.

Mr. Rathbone

Is the Minister aware that many hon. Members will be concerned at his statement that there has not been a special meeting between himself and his colleagues prior to the meetings in France later this week? It seems to show a lack of awareness that at those meetings broad direction will be established over the attitude and direction for help to the developing world from the industrialised world.

Therefore, can the Minister reassure the House on three specific points: first, that the United Kingdom will continue to press for better understanding of those aspirations; secondly, that the United Kingdom Government will press, in conjunction with European Community countries, to continue better efforts, activities and thrust to meet those aspirations; and, thirdly, that the United Kingdom will not jeopardise the co-operative ventures such as those to which we now aspire in the EEC through lack of cooperation on other fronts, particularly on energy policy?

Mr. Prentice

I dealt earlier with the last point.

Next week's summit meeting will be attended by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, together with their opposite numbers from the other five countries. That represents a wide range of policy interests. I cannot anticipate in detail what my right hon. Friends will be saying, but I can assure the House that a good deal of attention will be given to the problems of the developing world, to its trade problems, to the commodity issue and to the flow of development assistance as part of the civilised relationship between countries.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my right hon. Friend consider discussing with the EEC Development Ministers the possibility of disposing of some of the huge food surpluses which are building up in Europe? Is it not a tragedy, with world-wide poverty and people dying of starvation, that we should have dried milk mountains and that now mountains of apples are being ploughed into the fields in France?

Mr. Prentice

This matter has been discussed. A Community food aid programme was discussed at the Council of Ministers on 13th October. The British Government and others were prepared to press for a larger programme but, unfortunately, that was not generally agreed.