HL Deb 13 June 1980 vol 410 cc750-1

11.23 a.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. May I make one correction? "The World" should read "One World". The mistake was mine.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they co-operated with the United Nations and 17 editors of major world papers in the plan to publish a quarterly supplement, The World, to popularise the proposals of the new international economic order; and whether they will encourage British papers of quality (unfortunately not yet signatories) to become partners in this effort to reduce world poverty.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, the Government are not involved in this venture, which has been undertaken by journalists with support from United Nations bodies. We should not wish to influence the judgment of British editors in the matter.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, in view of the publication of the Brandt Report and the great discussion of this issue all over the world, the fact that leading newspapers such as Le Monde of France are participating and that 15 different papers all over the world are engaged in it, would it not be desirable that British newspapers should also co-operate?

Lord TREFGARNE

Very possibly, my Lords, but it is a matter for the newspapers themselves.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, could my noble friend tell us what is the new international order referred to and whether it is one in which the OPEC countries have deepened the damage done by inflation to the whole of the industrial world and deepened still more the poverty of the Third World?

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, the new international economic order sterns, I think, from proposals of the group of 77 developing countries. I am afraid we do not support the proposals in their entirety. We continue to have reservations about many of the specific items.

Lord BROCKWAY

Yes, my Lords, but is the Minister aware that the supplement will contain a one-third contribution from the newspapers themselves in comment upon the proposals? Is he aware that the United Nations itself is publishing this supplement in its Forum? Ought we not to be giving support?

Lord TREFGARNE

No, my Lords, this is a matter for the editors themselves.