§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have now reached conclusions on the report of multinational corporations submitted by the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the Organisation for European Co-operation and Development.
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISMy Lords, the report in question was communicated to the OECD in response to an invitation from the Secretary-General to comment on preliminary conclusions by the specialist committees studying various aspects of the operations of multinational companies. As the noble Lord was informed in reply to the Question he asked on 8th April, the appropriate Liaison Committee has had a useful exchange of views on the issues raised in the TUAC report. I understand the OECD Secretariat aims to arrange a further meeting with the TUAC later in the year. Meanwhile, the report is being referred to the specialist committees concerned for comment on particular aspects. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for the Government to reach conclusions before an opportunity had been given for detailed discussions of the proposals by the technical experts.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that full reply, may I ask him whether it is not the case that the non-Communist trade unions of the world have made very constructive proposals for the control of multinational companies in the interests of the peoples of the world whose lives are now 1182 dominated by these international giant concerns? Would Her Majesty's Government look particularly at the proposals made by the international trade union movement for inter-governmental action within the framework of the United Nations, laying down obligations for the multinational companies to fulfil, including public accountability and control of capital investments and takeovers across frontiers? Would Her Majesty's Government give deep consideration to these constructive proposals?
§ Lord LOVELL-DAVISYes, my Lords, the Government will indeed consider these matters.