§ 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 attitude their representatives are taking at the conference of the 87 nations attached to the UNCTAD Committee on Commodities on the Secretariat's proposal for a buffer stock to stabilise the prices of non-oil commodities from developing nations.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government consider that the question of setting up buffer stocks should be pursued on a commodity-by-commodity basis, preferably in those international fora which already exist for specialised commodities, or, failing this, by UNCTAD in close liaison with these fora. The United Kingdom delegation to the Committee on Commodities has been instructed in this sense.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the Minister. Can he say how far the developing nations at the Conference accepted the proposal which Her Majesty's Government made?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot say, because, obviously, in view of the enormous list of commodities concerned I cannot speak for individual countries regarding them.
§ Lord BROCKWAYYes, my Lords; but that was not exactly my question. The developing countries put forward proposals for a buffer stock arrangement 538 for 18 different commodities. The Minister has answered that these are to be taken separately. Is it the case that the developing nations have accepted that they should be taken separately, or are they still insisting on the broader conception?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, may 1 give a slightly wider answer to my noble friend's question? The United Kingdom view is that the question of setting up buffer stocks should be pursued on a commodity-by-commodity basis, because of the diverse nature of the commodities, preferably in international fora which already exist for specialised commodities—for instance, Food and Agriculture Organisation commodity groups—or, failing this, by UNCTAD in close liason with the fora. However, we cannot see much cause for duplicating work on commodities for which commodity agreements already exist, or are being negotiated, involving buffer stocks. This is true of cocoa, coffee and tin.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, does not that answer indicate that the difference between the developing countries and the West—the United States of America, West Germany and this country —still persists; and is not it very unfortunate that Her Majesty's Government in conference after conference should have been in conflict with the developing countries in regard to their demands?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, it is not a question of conflict. It is a question of the best way to achieve certain objectives. We are talking about chalk and cheese, and it is impossible to arrive at a standard formula to cover both chalk and cheese.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, while we admire my noble friend's voracious appetite for United Nations' Resolutions, would it not be salutary, as the Minister said, for us to have a critical look at this matter and be allowed to take our own stand on it; or do we have to take just what these countries want us to take?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords. I am grateful to my noble friend. The point is that we are concerned with the 539 whole range of commodities, while certain individual countries are interested in a far narrower range.
§ Lord HALEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that a book has today been published, which I cannot by the Rules of the House advertise, although I should like to? Is he aware that it is entitled Economic Stability is Attainable and it has a foreword, written by a noble Lord who is a Member of this House and an economic adviser to the present Government, which puts forward proposals, in rather more elaborate form than in previous works, suggesting—as I ventured to suggest to the noble Lord a week or so ago—that solving the vital problem of commodity prices would be one of the most powerful contributions to the battle against inflation? Will the noble Lord consult the noble Lord, Lord Kaldor, about it, and will he, perhaps, familiarise himself with the book's contents?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, as my noble friend has pointed out, the book was apparently published this morning. I have been struggling through the fog to get from Wales to this House, so I have not as yet had time to read it.
§ Lord BYERSMy Lords, may I ask the Minister to take an early opportunity of reading this book by Mr. Grondona, which is a really remarkable contribution at the present time regarding international economic difficulties?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMYes, my Lords.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, will the Government consider making a statement on the theories put forward by Mr. Grondona, which have been under examination and public scrutiny for about 25 years, and on which no Government have yet declared their position categorically and clearly?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, this is a subject on which it is impossible for any Government to reply categorically. We all have differing interests.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, are we to take it from the reply which the noble Lord has given to my noble friend that 540 it is not the purpose of Her Majesty's Government to seek to interfere with the independence of the other countries concerned, for example, British Guyana? Is it not true that we have already conveyed information to the nation that the British Guyana Government have decided to nationalise the demerara interests in that country, without any interference at all from Her Majesty's Government?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords. I am grateful to my noble friend for his constructive remarks.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the Government's adviser, Lord Kaldor, is still of the opinion which is expressed on the cover of this book?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Shepherd)My Lords, my understanding of the purpose of Question Time—and I have sought to put it to your Lordships' House on a number of occasions—is to elicit information from Her Majesty's Government on matters for which they are responsible. I really do not think that anything concerned with the noble Lord, Lord Kaldor, or anybody else has anything to do with the Government. It is a matter for the person concerned.