HC Deb 27 July 1981 vol 9 cc815-7
32. Mr. Bowen Wells

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in international discussions in considering proposals implementing the Brandt report recommendations.

33. Mr. Chapman

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now make a statement about the agenda of the preparatory meeting of Foreign Ministers on 1 and 2 August for the Mexico summit in October.

34. Mr. Dormand

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further consultations he proposes to have concerning the Government's actions on the Brandt report.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Neil Marten)

I have nothing to add to the statements made by my hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal and my hon. Friend the Minister of State in last Friday's debate.

Mr. Wells

Is my right hon. Friend aware how much the positive attitude displayed by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal in his opening speech in that debate has been welcomed by the House and by the country at large? Does he agree that Britain, as a trading nation that exports more than 30 per cent. of its gross domestic product, has much to lose if there is not a positive outcome from the Mexico summit,? Will he tell the House what initiatives he proposes at the Mexico summit because Britain will be the one nation at that meeting that is oil-sufficient in the Northern area?

Mr. Marten

I shall not attend the Mexico summit, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will have heard what my hon. Friend has said. My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal in his speech to the House on Friday set out the four initiatives that we shall be taking.

Mr. Chapman

Taking trade aid and private investment into consideration, is it not true that Britain's record is good, if not second to none? Ought not our attitude at Mexico to be constructive and to encourage every developed country to contribute according to its means to each individual poorer country according to its needs and not according to political expediency as, sadly, has too often been the case in the past?

Mr. Marten

My hon. Friend is correct to stress the first point about combining private and official aid. The second point is a good suggestion that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will have noted. She will take a constructive attitude at the Mexico summit.

Mr. Dormand

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first five-year programme called for in the Brandt report is already behind schedule? Is he aware that this Government's inertia and lack of enthusiasm for the programme is the cause of that disappointing state of affairs? Does he agree that the Commonwealth summit, due to begin on 30 September, is of crucial importance in making progress in Mexico? Will the Government demonstrate more dynamic leadership than they have done so far? [Interruption.]

Mr. Marten

Someone behind me muttered that if the hon. Gentleman had been present on Friday he would have had a different point of view.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity this week to meet Heads of Commonwealth Governments—many of whom head undeveloped countries—who are here for the Royal wedding, to try to stimulate more trade with those whom we know and who know us?

Mr. Marten

I am meeting a number of Heads of Commonwealth Governments during this week and other Ministers will be doing likewise. The Commonwealth Heads of Government conference at Melbourne will be another opportunity to discuss the subject that my hon. Friend has raised.

Mr. McElhone

Is the Minister aware that the Prime Minister, in signing the communiqué of the Ottawa summit, committed this country to substantial and growing levels of official development assistance? How can the Prime Minister sign such a statement when the Government are cutting aid over the next two years by 15.3 per cent.?

Mr. Marten

We hope that that will happen when the economy of this country gets into better shape. If the Members of the Opposition can help this country in getting our economy into better shape I am sure that that will be much appreciated.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Has my hon. Friend seen the manifesto issued by the Nobel prize winners, which draws attention to the even more urgent problem of mass world starvation? Will he give urgent attention to that manifesto?

Mr. Marten

I have not seen that manifesto but I shall look at it.

Mr. Leighton

Does the Minister agree that British aid to the Solomon Islands, which is a less developed, remote and fragmented country, should be in the form of grants rather than soft loans? Is it not wrong that in the initial years the country should be burdened with interest repayments?.

Mr. Marten

Part of the aid to the Solomon Islands, which I have recently visited, is in the form of grant, but the loans to which the hon. Gentleman refers are extremely soft and on easy terms.

Mr. Dorrell

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the most interesting recommendations of the Brandt report was that countries should co-operate to draw up a code of practice for the operation of multinational companies throughout the world, to assist them in promoting investment within the developing countries? Does he agree that that would be a fruitful issue for Heads of Government to consider in Mexico?

Mr. Marten

Yes, I hope that it will be discussed.