HC Deb 21 May 1984 vol 60 cc680-2
33. Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the African, Caribbean and Pacific/European Community Council in Fiji.

Mr. Raison

The annual ACP-EC Council meeting on 2 May discussed issues relating to the management of the second Lomé convention. The third ACP-EC negotiating conference on a successor to the convention on 3 to 5 May made satisfactory progress, and it was agreed that a fourth negotiating conference would be held in Luxembourg on 28 to 29 June.

Mr. Key

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the greatest contribution of the Lomé convention has been towards the development of trade rather than to making available quantities of aid money? Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the Government are pursuing that line?

Mr. Raison

I agree with my hon. Friend. The trade aspect of the Lomé convention is extremely important. In the negotiations we have stressed the need for further liberalisation of trade in the next convention.

Mr. Stuart Holland

The Minister said that satisfactory progress had been made at the talks. Therefore, can he tell us why there was no discussion of either the amount of finance or the criteria for finance and disbursement? There was virtually no discussion of trade. How does the Minister reconcile the ACP countries' demand that there should be serious discussion of the Community's relationship with South Africa with the invitation to Mr. Pieter Botha to come to this country?

Mr. Raison

It has always been understood that finance should be tackled at the end of the negotiations. I made clear my views on trade. There was some discussion of trade. It is not true that there was no discussion of trade. A group was devoted to it.

The hon. Gentleman's remarks about Mr. Botha have little relevance to the matter.

Mr. Dorrell

Does my right hon. Friend agree that sound economic development in many of these countries requires measures to reduce the rate of growth of their populations? Did he therefore raise that issue, or have it raised, at the recent talks for the ACP-EC renewal? If not, will he do so in future?

Mr. Raison

The question of population was raised, but it did not feature prominently. However, the Government have done a considerable amount in that area. Our support for population activities has increased considerably in recent years and it will continue to grow.

Mr. Deakins

Does not the scope of the Lomé convention negotiations and renegotiations need radical revision to take account of the gamut of relationships between the poor and rich countries represented and of many other different matters, including the dumping of surpluses under the common agricultural policy?

Mr. Raison

The Lomé relationship is already wide-ranging. We discussed in Fiji, and will continue to discuss, matters covering a great deal of ground, and our discussions touch at certain points on food aid. I should be reluctant to see the scope of the convention becoming wider and wider. It is important to make the convention effective.

Mr. Bowen-Wells

Was any progress made on the question of the rules of origin applying to the ACP countries?

Mr. Raison

Some progress was made, but I hope that we can achieve more.

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