§ 2.57 p.m.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made towards setting up (i) a permanent Commonwealth Secretarial and (ii) a Commonwealth Foundation as agreed upon at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference held in July, 1964.]
358§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)My Lords, senior Commonwealth officials representing all, or almost all, Commonwealth countries will meet in London in the first week of January to consider the best basis for establishing a Commonwealth Secretariat and Foundation. Her Majesty's Government welcome these initiatives and hope that rapid progress can be made with them. The recommendations of the officials will, of course, be subject to the agreement of all Commonwealth Governments.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for his reply and am very gratified to hear it. I would only ask the noble Lord to remember that it is now six months since the last Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, and I hope that these very important Commonwealth initiatives will be pressed forward.
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, yes. It had been hoped to arrange a meeting of Commonwealth officials for October, but unfortunately not all the Commonwealth Governments could manage it.