Brandt Report (Hansard, 1 June 1981)

§ 41. Mr. Canavan
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he intends taking any new initiatives, following the lobby of Parliament on the Brandt report.

§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Neil Marten)
The Government have noted the views expressed by participants in the Lobby and will take account of them in making preparations for the Mexico summit next October.

§ Mr. Canavan
In view of the Brandt report's emphasis on the need to spend more on overseas aid and less on the arms race, what possible justification is there for the Government's plans to spend less on overseas aid between now and 1984, by which time we shall be spending over 15 times as much on so-called defence? Why do the Government have no intention of meeting Brandt's target of spending 0.7 per cent. of GNP on overseas aid by 1985?

§ Mr. Marten
The Government intend to do that, but they cannot give a date. That must depend on this country's economic circumstances. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's question about expenditure on armaments, it is the first duty of any Government to see that their country is properly defended. That is why we spend money on armaments.

§ Mr. Bowen Wells
Does the Minister accept that today of all days we should congratulate the Commonwealth Development Corporation on its results for last year? Does he accept also that the major contribution that this country could make to achieve the Brandt report's proposals is to make more funds available to that corporation? As I have been pressing the Government on the matter for over a year, is it not time that the Treasury gave way to my hon. Friend's representations and made money available to expand the Commonwealth Development Corporation?

§ Mr. Marten
The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is "Yes". The answer to the second part is that the matter is still under consideration in the Treasury.

Several hon. Members
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This matter arises in three other similar questions, but I shall call one speaker from the Front Bench.

§ Mr. Guy Barnett
Did the hon. Gentleman notice statements that arose from the recent Brandt commission's meeting, particularly a statement by his right hon. Friend the Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath)? When will the Government realise that this is a matter of urgency, and that our credibility at Mexico will depend upon a practical demonstration of our concern by increasing the aid figures as fast as possible?

§ Mr. Marten
When the economy is stronger I am sure that the Government will wish to increase the aid, but it would be folly to promise to increase it when we do not have the resources to do so. During the current year we are giving £1,037 million in cash aid. In my view, that is a very creditable performance.

§ 42. Mr. William Hamilton
asked the Lord Privy Seal what changes he intends to make in the United Kingdom's aid programme following his meeting with the recent lobby on the Brandt report.

§ Mr. Neil Marten
I have considered carefully the points raised at the mass lobby on 5 May but I am not persuaded that changes need to be made to our aid programme, which is both substantial and effective.

§ Mr. Hamilton
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that lobby was one of the most responsible and impressive lobbies that had been seen at Westminster for a long time? Will he consider the proposal to publish a Green Paper before the Mexico summit and to have a debate on it in the House, so that the Government's representative may express the views of this House at Mexico?

§ Mr. Marten
In answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I agree that the lobby was impressive in numbers. However, policy is shifted by arguments, not by the numbers of people who take part in lobbies. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's question about the Mexico summit, the meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss the agenda will not take place until 2 August, when the agenda will be drawn up. It may be impossible to have a debate about the agenda, as I hope that Parliament will have risen by then. The discussions in the August meeting are expected to cover four main matters—namely, food and agriculture, trade and industrialisation, finance and monetary questions, and energy matters.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell
Why do people talk so much bunkum on this subject?

§ Mr. Marten
That is a question of opinion.

§ Mr. Trippier
I acknowledge the moral arguments contained in the Brandt report, but will my hon. Friend remember the Government's moral responsibility to the British textile and footwear industries, and point out to the Opposition Members that it is only by the wealth creation of those industries and other manufacturing industries that we can afford to assist the Third world or developing countries?

§ Mr. Marten
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point. I was interested in the questions on the subject that were put earlier to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and the answers that he gave.

§ Mr. Deakins
In the run up to Mexico, will the Minister consider getting together with the other six Commonwealth countries going there with a view to achieving a joint approach before the Mexico summit meetings in August and October?

§ Mr. Marten
I doubt whether there is time to get together, but communications exist between the various Commonwealth countries on the matter and they will take place either before or at the Mexico meeting.

§ Mr. Stokes
Is my hon. Friend aware that the House and part of the nation are in danger of becoming bemused by the Brandt report, which has become a fashionable, modish phrase so that unless one supports it one must be a bad person? Is it not the first duty of the Government and the House to make sure that the economy of this country is right? After that we can deal with the Brandt report and other matters.

§ Mr. Marten
The last part of my hon. Friend's statement is correct.