§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy 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 taken note of the deliberations of the "77 Club" in Arusha and what attitude they propose to take to them.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, we are carefully studying the Programme adopted by the developing countries at their ministerial meeting last month in Arusha. We hope that it will contribute to a constructive discussion at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development which will be held in May.
§ Lord HATCH of LUSBYMy Lords, will my noble friend agree that a meeting of this kind, at which was represented well over half of mankind, warrants much more attention than has been paid to it in this country? Will he further agree with the opening address of the President of Tanzania, to the effect that this matter involves the prosperity not merely of the Third World but of the whole world? Were the British Government represented in Arusha, and what is their policy towards the UNCTAD meeting for which this was a preparation?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, further international work will be needed on most of the specific proposals in the Arusha Programme in order to assess the case for action on the lines which have been envisaged, but like other developed countries, we foresee a number of difficulties. However, we certainly share two of the assumptions underlying the Programme: 356 that developed and developing countries must work together to seek better ways of managing the world economy, and that effective international action is needed to tackle the problems of development. I do not know whether the British Government were represented at Arusha.
§ Lord DERWENTMy Lords, I must apologise to the House for my ignorance, but can the Minister tell me where Arusha is, and what is the "77 Club"?
§ Lord JACQUESThat is an easy one for me, my Lords, because I have looked it up. Arusha is in Tanzania.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, is not the real problem here that of Government contributions to the Common Fund? In view of the fact that the non-aligned nations at Arusha decided to make their own substantial contributions, and bearing in mind that five European countries have agreed to do so, and that the Soviet Union and its allies have also agreed, is there not a danger that the United States of America, West Germany, and Britain may be ruled out of this great effort? Will the Government turn their mind very seriously to this problem, before Manila?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I can give an undertaking that the Government are devoting, and will continue to devote, their minds very seriously to the problem.