HL Deb 03 February 1977 vol 379 cc963-5

3.25 p.m.

Lord MERRIVALE

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 when the conclusions of the Central Policy Review Staff Review of Overseas Representation will be made available to Parliament; and whether, bearing in mind the Lomé Convention in their consideration of this review, they will take particular account of the need for representation in developing countries.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said in another place on the 17th January that Sir Kenneth Berrill has said that he intends to let him have the report by the end of April, that the House would be informed of the conclusions of the report, and that as much of it would be published as possible. Her Majesty's Government will certainly take into account the point mentioned by the noble Lord.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Would the noble Lord not agree that, in deciding where we should have representation, it should be borne very much in mind that the signing of the Lomé Convention did offer totally new opportunities for increased co-operation, industrial and general, for trade promotion and for increased British participation in the economies of the countries concerned, thus making on-the-spot representation highly desirable? Is the noble Lord further aware—I think he is—that I have particularly in mind certain signatories of the Yaoundé Convention?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I appreciate the concern of the noble Lord about our future representation and activity in the ACP countries, and the point he made about Yaoundé. I expect that Sir Kenneth Berrill will, in his report, address himself to this aspect of British representation abroad, among other aspects, and I suspect that the noble Lord has already sent him the benefit of his own thoughts on the matter.

Lord GLADWYN

My Lords, may we assume that when this report is published we shall have an early opportunity to consider it in this House? Further, is it a fact that the "think-tank" will in fact consider the possibility of joint Community representation in a number of countries, thereby saving a great deal of money?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, the second point is a point of substance and of merit, and no doubt will be subsumed in the first point; namely, arrangements for a debate in this House on the whole area. Sitting, as I do, in a deputy position, next to the Leader of the House, and regarding both the Front Opposition Benches, I have no doubt that certain arrangements can fairly easily be determined.

Lord ELTON

My Lords, does the noble Lord therefore agree that the level of representation in the countries to which my noble friend alludes is of great importance, in view of the fact that it is a principal means, now, of executing our foreign policy? Secondly, is he aware that I recently conducted a tour of the ASEAN capitals and was greatly impressed by the level of representation there, and the dedication of the staff? I hope this will continue after the review, since it is a very material matter in the standing of this country throughout the Third World.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Yes, my Lords. The noble Lord, Lord Elton, reinforces the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Merrivale, as well as the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Gladwyn; namely, that we need to look at associated representation and the position of the emerging regional groups. We have heard reference to the ACP countries, to the Community, and now to ASEAN. I have no doubt that both Sir Kenneth Berrill, when he reports, and Her Majesty's Government will be addressing themselves very closely to those points. I will, anyway.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, the noble Lord is perfectly right: I was in touch with Sir Kenneth Berrill this summer. Might I press the noble Lord a little further, particularly regarding Madagascar, with a view to the reopening of a small embassy there? Is the noble Lord aware of the increasing opportunities for British exporters and offshore traders, and of the arguments on political and strategic grounds for such a course of action by Her Majesty's Government, whose decision it will be? Will the noble Lord also be good enough to look into the question of representation in Gabon, an OPEC country and one of the wealthiest small countries in Africa, which is desirous of building up its relationship with this country?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, we are accustomed to listening with pleasure to the noble Lord's play for Madagascar. Even if the noble Lord had not made his own representations to Sir Kenneth Berrill, I have no doubt that Sir Kenneth would have had Madagascar among other countries in his mind when he reports.

Lord MERRIVALE

My Lords, will the noble Lord refer to Gabon, particularly as President Bongo is in favour of such representation?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, there will equally be consideration of the position in Gabon.