North-South Summit (Hansard, 3 December 1980)

§ 1. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he received an invitation from the President of Mexico and the Austrian Federal Chancellor to attend the Vienna meeting of sponsors of the 1981 North-South Summit; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Douglas Hurd)
No, Sir. This was a limited preparatory meeting of co-sponsors, which neither the United States no Japan nor the United Kingdom attended.

§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler
Is my hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members on both sides of the House welcome the statement by his right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign Secretary the Select Committee this morning to the effect that Britain intends to take part in the conference? Because of earlier remarks by the Government about the importance of adequate preparation for the conference, will my hon. Friend say how the British Government are to be involved in the preparation work, so that the summit can reach useful decisions on the Brandt Commission report and the North-South dialogue?

§ Mr. Hurd
We are in close touch with the sponsors. My right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the matter with the President of Mexico fairly recently. We expect that there will be a summit of between 20 and 26 countries, possibly in June next year. We expect, and would be glad, to attend any such meeting.

§ Mr. Douglas-Mann
Does the Minister accept that the failure of the Government to produce an adequate response to the appeal by the Brandt Commission for a summit 246 conference, and for the issue of North-South relations to be placed at the top of the international agenda, is one of the greatest sources of disappointment in a Government who have disappointed most people on most issues?

§ Mr. Hurd
I do not agree with that, and the evidence does not bear it out. We have always made it clear that we are ready to attend such a summit, provided that it is properly prepared. That preparation is now under way.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
When my hon. Friend next has contact with the President of Mexico, will he carry at the back of his mind the universal reaction of the House yesterday to the proposals for concessions to the Argentine in respect of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is stretching things. Even with the good will that I have brought back with me, I cannot allow a different question from the one on the Order Paper.

§ Mr. Robert Hughes
Is there not a great danger that the discussion on the Brandt Commission will simply fall into a number of conferences in which there will be an endless series of discussions but little practical action? Would it not be a good idea to begin practical action by putting some money into the aims of the Southern African co-ordinating development committee?

§ Mr. Hurd
My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development attended a conference on that subject, which I understand was useful. There is a great deal of practical work in that area taking place—more, perhaps, than has been appreciated so far. I shall be glad to send the hon. Gentleman details.

§ Mr. Shore
Is the Minister aware that one of the reasons why he has not received an invitation, and one of the reasons why he may not receive an invitation, to attend the conference is the negative response that was published in the form of a Green Paper commenting on the Brandt Commission proposals? May I put it to the Minister that it would be of great service to the reputation of this country and would do something for the reputation of the Government if he introduced amended and more responsive proposals that the House could debate before such a conference took place?

§ Mr. Hurd
I understand that there may be another debate on these matters before long. The statements of my right hon. and noble Friend and other Foreign Office Ministers throughout this period have shown that we want to make practical progress in these areas and that we support the many practical proposals which have been brought forward and which are making progress.