§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, may I raise a point of order? Was my Question answered?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I gave an Answer, and if the noble Lord did not hear me, then I apologise. The Answer was: "No, my Lords".
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, may I ask a supplementary question? While wishing the Prime Minister good luck on his diplomatic mission, may I ask the Front Bench whether they will represent to the Cabinet that Britain's diplomatic powers depend entirely upon her financial strength, and that to raise the price of gold is the easiest way of putting our affairs right, and may even appeal to the United States, in view of their currency difficulties?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I will take note of what the noble Lord has said, but as the House will know, and I have repeated on many occasions, it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that to raise the price of gold would not improve world liquidity in a way beneficial to the major trading nations of the world.