HC Deb 29 June 1981 vol 7 cc574-5
51. Mr. Leighton

asked the Lord Privy Seal what policies Her Majesty's Government will be putting forward at the forthcoming Mexico summit meeting.

Mr. Neil Marten

It is too early to say. We shall naturally review matters with care before the summit, to identify opportunities for progress. The agenda will not be decided before the preparatory meeting of Foreign Ministers on 1–2 August, but is expected to cover four main matters, namely, food and agriculture, trade and industrialisation, finance and monetary questions and energy matters.

Mr. Leighton

Is the Minister aware that the London borough of Newham has a rapidly growing, several hundred strong branch of the World Development Movement? Is he further aware that the movement is putting increasing pressure on public representatives to the effect that they should urge the Government to take a positive line at the Mexico summit? With its international links, the movement thinks that Britain is ideally placed to do so. In addition, it thinks that to increase the purchasing power of our potential customers is to adopt a course of self-enlightenment.

Mr. Marten

The format of the summit conference has not yet been decided. We hope that it will be a fairly informal and free-ranging summit. As I said, the discussions are expected to cover those four topics. It is only a two-day meeting. We should not raise expectations too high because there are limits to what can be discussed in that space of time.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is my right hon. Friend as nauseated as I am by the attitude expressed by the innumerable splinter parties among the Opposition? Hon. Members constantly demand that we should do more to help the under-developed world but are the first to demand that imports from the Third world should be shut out by a process of protection in order to defend our industries.

Mr. Marten

I agree with my hon. Friend. What is obvious is the conflict of opinion between the industrial voices and the aid lobby.