HC Deb 16 April 1980 vol 982 cc1204-5
34. Mr. Knox

asked the Lord Privy Seal when next his noble Friend expects to met his European Economic Community colleagues.

Sir Ian Gilmour

At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 and 22 April.

Mr. Knox

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the unanimity shown by the Council of Foreign Ministers last week over Iran represents a significant step forward in the development of an EEC foreign policy? Will this process continue at the meeting?

Sir I. Gilmour

I think that we would all agree that next week's meeting will be very important. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State said, it will not be the be-all and end-all of our policy on Iran.

Mr. Bowen Wells

When my right hon. Friend next meets his European Economic Community colleagues, will he raise the subject of the operation of the European Investment Bank and of our contribution to it? Does he agree that we have our own Commonwealth Development Corporation, which is more worthy of the contributions that we make from our limited resources? Will he reduce our contribution to the European Investment Bank in favour of the Commonwealth Development Corporation?

Sir L Gilmour

Both institutions are important. I shall certainly look at the question, but it is unnecessary to denigrate one while praising the other.

Mr. Dalyell

If the Lord Privy Seal were a stubborn Iranian, would a blockade with the possibility of a military threat make him more, or less, amenable to releasing hostages?

Sir I. Gilmour

I can safely say that that is a hypothetical question.