§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 conclusions have been reached at the Ambassadors' Conference at Helsinki regarding preparations for a European Conference on Security and Co-operation.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, the talks have not yet concluded. After satisfactory progress they have been adjourned until February 26 to allow for consultations in capitals about the many proposals that have been tabled.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer, and particularly emphasising the word "satisfactory", may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government would now 2 begin to give priority in their foreign policy to this proposal? Has she not herself agreed with me that it may be the great breakthrough this year—not merely the Conference but the Commissions, and the continuing attempt to reach an agreement between East and West?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I do not say that we will give it priority, because there are a great many subjects of immense importance which also merit just as much attention, but, as I said in a recent debate, we are working hard to try to get agreement.