§ 4. Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's current relations with Australia.
§ Mr. EggarOur relations with Australia are excellent. As I said on 3 February on Second Reading of the Australia Bill, they are of the greatest importance to us.
§ Mr. McNamaraFollowing the visit of Senator Evans, will the Government confirm that they will take an active equal part in the technical assessment group which is examining the problems associated with the nuclear debris in Maralinga?
§ Mr. EggarDuring Senator Evans' visit agreement was reached in principle on two major points. We accepted his invitation to participate in the technical assessment group, and we are represented on the consultative group.
§ Mr. HoltDoes my hon. Friend accept that we all appreciate our wonderful relationship with Australia, and that that is especially identified with the number of Australian visitors to Britain during the past few years? Last year there were more than 500,000 such visitors. Does he accept that they were most welcome in my constituency, which is where Captain Cook was born and raised?
§ Mr. EggarI echo my hon. Friend's sentiments and hope that tourism in his constituency is suitably increased as a result of his remarks.