§ 2.44 p.m.
§ The Lord Bishop of COVENTRYMy 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 steps they are proposing to take on the findings of the recently held Rome Conference.
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are examining the detailed recommendations of the Conference with a view to organising a maximum British response. We hope to be represented on the new World Food Council and the Committees on Food Security, Aid Policies and Programmes when they are established. We also intend to participate fully in the UN Secretary General's proposed meeting about the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
§ The Lord Bishop of COVENTRYMy Lords, while being grateful for the courteous reply of the noble Baroness, in view of the gravity of the situation and the fact that world famine in the Third World may hit us within the next four or five months I doubt whether that Answer is really satisfying. I should like to ask one supplementary question which is in two parts. First, what steps are Her Majesty's Government taking to make the people of this country more aware of the need to grow more food in this country, thereby saving the need to import foodstuffs required for countries of the Third World; and secondly, what steps are Her Majesty's Government taking to publicise the necessity to prevent wastage of food in this country?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, while entirely sharing the right reverend Prelate's concern about the desperate situation concerning the world food shortage, I think both his questions run rather wide of his original question. Her Majesty's Government are doing everything they can to help production of food in this country. I am glad to say that, while we are doing that, and while we import so much of our own food, we are giving £18 million through our EEC contribution to world food aid and £1.8 million in direct contribution to the World Food Programme.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming the Minister's reply and Her Majesty's Government's participation in 1164 this series of conferences, may I ask whether the issue of famine in the world now is so urgent that there is a danger that a long row of conferences may delay a solution or a contribution and may come before the point of the immediate urgency?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, I have some sympathy with the views of my noble friend. Nevertheless, this Conference was largely asked for by the developing countries. We felt it right to take part. Her Majesty's Government made a significant contribution to the Conference, particularly in calling a special Commonwealth Conference of Ministers responsible for development, and also in making specific recommendations to the working of the Conference itself.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, while noting the statement of the noble Baroness that the Government are encouraging to the best possible advantage the production of food in this country, may I ask whether the Government realise that the farmers of this country require even more encouragement?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEYes, my Lords.
§ Earl COWLEYMy Lords, could the noble Baroness say what will be the size of this country's contribution to the Agricultural Development Fund, and what other countries do they know of, other than Iran, who are actually making any contribution to this Fund?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, as the noble Earl will know, there were a number of resolutions put at the Conference, and until the whole matter has been generally confirmed we cannot come to a firm conclusion about our own contribution; and I do not think the noble Earl would expect it. He referred to Iran. We very much welcomed the encouraging speeches by the oil-producing countries, and we await with some anxiety positive action on their part towards this world problem.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEHear, hear! Shake down the sheikhs!
§ Lord PARGITERMy Lords, would 1165 not the noble Baroness agree that there is considerable difficulty and alarm among some of the countries who are willing to contribute about the falling down in the arrangements for distribution? Could this aspect be looked at at the same time as the goods are supplied?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEYes, my Lords. This is what the Committee on Food Security is particularly concerned with, not only stockpiling but actual distribution.