HL Deb 06 November 1973 vol 346 cc233-4
Lord BROCKWAY

My 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 action is being taken to assist present and former colonial territories in the Caribbean which are threatened by economic non-viability and political fragmentation.

TIIE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have for many years given development aid and where necessary budgetary aid to the independent and dependent countries of the Caribbean. We shall continue to do so. We shall also seek adequate arrangements to protect the markets of these countries for certain products during the negotiations under Protocol 22 of the Treaty of Rome.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer may I ask whether there is not a great danger that the scattered small islands of the Caribbean will become the victims of concession hunters and multinational companies—already 12, very soon 17, sovereign States among them? Would it be possible for a consultation to take place between representatives of these territories under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat, with the Caribbean Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented, to deal with this problem?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, we are always willing to assist where we are requested to do so by independent countries, and we very much welcome the creation of the Caribbean Community on August 1. I understand it is hoped that at least another eight territories may join this Community during 1974.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while heartily welcoming that information may I ask the noble Baroness whether it is possible to develop a common market between the big four—Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados—with the other territories? Are not some of the smaller territories, like St. Lucia and St. Vincent, very ready to enter into mergers of this character, and should they not be encouraged?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, St. Lucia and St. Vincent are two of the territories which it is hoped will in fact joint the Caribbean Community, and the noble Lord will know that the opening of the Protocol 22 negotiations was a great success. The experts start on the technical details on November 21.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, are we not also in danger of requiring economic aid owing to economic non-viability and political fragmentation?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I was a member of the Constitutional Conference on Scotland, but I think that that is another question.

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