Lords Sitting of 19 December 1975

Preamble
The House met at eleven of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR On the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.
The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones): My Lords, this might be an opportune moment before the House proceeds to the principal business of the day for me to inform your Lordships that I shall be sitting judicially during the week beginning 12th January and possibly during the following week as well. I cannot therefore be in my place on the Woolsack until after four o'clock.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION: PARIS CONFERENCE
11.6 a.m.
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 conclusions have been reached at the Paris Conference on International Economic Co-operation.
The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts): My Lords, understand that the Conference concluded at 4.30 this morning. It was I decided to set up four Commissions, dealing with Energy, Raw Materials, Development and Financial Questions. Further details of the conclusions of the Conference will be set out in a communiqué and a copy of this will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as I receive it.
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that I put down this Question today before the House goes into Recess only because of the importance of the Conference? May I ask whether my noble friend can give any report about the discussion during the last two days regarding a new inter
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national economic arrangement, and can he confirm that early this morning a compromise was reached with the developing countries regarding the guidelines for the four Commissions?
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: My Lords, I cannot at this very early stage after the conclusion of the plenary Conference engage in any helpful detail in reply to the noble Lord or to any other noble Lord who understandably may wish to have this information as soon as possible. I do engage to make it known to the House, as doubtless they will in another place, as soon as possible, so that Parliament will know the upshot of this important Conference. As to the points of substance which my noble friend has raised, I have no doubt that the four Commissions which have now been decided on will work on the details of what he has called a new economic arrangement and will then report in due course to the plenary Conference, at which stage we shall be in a better position to assess the final results of this Conference.
Lord WIGG: My Lords, will the Minister not agree that the fact that the Government are now arguing for a minimum price of oil places us apart from the rest of our partners in the EEC and in the US and brings us more into line with the OPEC countries? As we are not eligible, and never shall be eligible so far as I can see, to join OPEC, would it not be better for Her Majesty's Government to consider realistically, taking into account our military and economic weakness, that we should join the non-aligned countries on the ground that it is better to be at the top of the second division than at the bottom of the first?
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: My Lords, I could not agree with my noble friend in what he says or with the implications at the end of his supplementary question. We intend to remain in the first division. As to the question of MSP, we believe that progress will be made on this vital matter in concert with our friends and allies within the Community and in relation to our economic and military strength as a member of NATO.
Lord BOOTHBY: My Lords, can the Minister tell us whether the international monetary system, which has now completely broken down, was considered at the Conference?
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: My Lords, I could not say that it was considered at the plenary Conference except by implication when the decision was reached to set up the four Commissions that I have described. One of the Commissions dealt with financial matters. No doubt the opportunity was taken to argue for the setting up of such a Commission on financial matters by reference to questions such as those raised by the noble Lord. I have no doubt that when that Commission get into these important questions of monetary arrangements their report to the plenary Conference will perhaps be the most important of the four.
Lord WIGG: My Lords, will the Minister not agree that, as a result of our decision to join the EEC and our policies —although one can perhaps misuse that word in describing what the Government have been up to in the last few months—this country has now sunk to the level of colonial status without the invigorating stimulus that comes from a section of the Community being in revolt against the dominant Power; and that, on the other hand, we do not get any of the invigoration that comes from acting in tow with a dominant Power but are in suspended animation slipping in strength—in whichever aspect one may regard it—all the time?
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: My Lords, I could not possibly agree that this country is slipping into a colonial status. We are all responsible for the status to which we aspire or sink as individuals or as countries. A major condition of the strengthening of this country is that we here in this country and our people face up to the economic facts and act accordingly.

RATING (CARAVAN SITES) BILL [H.L.]
Baroness STEDMAN: My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to allow for the valuation and rating as a single unit in certain cases of caravan sites or portions of caravan sites inclusive of parts separately occupied by caravanners and of their caravans; and for purposes connected therewith. I beg to move that the Bill be read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1a.—(Baroness Stedman.)
On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.

CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL
Brought from the Commons, endorsed with the Certificate from the Speaker that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911, and read 1a.
Then, Standing Order No. 44 having been suspended (pursuant to Resolution), Bill read 2a; Committee negatived; Bill read 3a, and passed.
Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE: My Lords, with the leave of the House, may all of us on these Benches wish noble Lords in all parts of the House a very happy Christmas and, we hope, a prosperous New Year.
Lord DENHAM: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friends, I should like to thank the noble Baroness, the Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms, for her very kind wishes, which we return to her and her noble friends.
Lord LLOYD of KILGERRAN: My Lords, may I also, on behalf of my noble friends, reciprocate the good wishes.
Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE: My Lords, I beg to move that this House do now adjourn for ten minutes until 11.25.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
[The Sitting was suspended from 11.15 a.m. to 11.25 a.m.]

ROYAL ASSENT
11.25 a.m.
The LORD CHANCELLOR: My Lords, I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that the Queen has signified Her Royal Assent to the following Acts:
Consolidated Fund (No. 3) Act 1975,
OECD Support Fund Act 1975,
Moneylenders (Crown Agents) Act 1975,
Civil List Act 1975,
Northern Ireland (Loans) Act 1975.