§ Captain Kerbyasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the purpose of the 52nd Wilton Park Conference and of the 57th Conference; and if, in view of the collapse of the Brussels negotiations, he will save public money by ordering these two conferences to be abandoned.
§ Mr. HeathThe 52nd and 57th Wilton Park Conferences will deal with a wide range of problems but in particular with "the Common Market and the world outside". The relationship between these two groups is of the greatest importance to this country whether we are in the Common Market or outside it, and the subject is no less appropriate after the failure of the Brussels negotiations. I see no reason why these Conferences should be abandoned.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will extend an invitation to the French Ambassador to the Court of St. James's to address the 54th Wilton Park Conference, from 7th to 20th July, 1963, entitled, "Economics and Politics in the Western Alliance: Issues of Sovereignty and Inter-Dependence;
(2) if, for the forthcoming session at Wilton Park on 28th February, he will extend an invitation to the Honourable Jomo Kenyatta to be the African speaker in the group discussion on the place of Africa in the world today.
§ Mr. HeathInvitations to address Wilton Park conferences are extended by 245W the Warden. He has already invited His Excellency the French Ambassador to address the 50th Conference, at which the special subject to be discussed will be "The Defence of the West: Political, Economic and Social Aspects". This is similar to that for the 54th Conference. For the forthcoming session on 28th February, a Kenyan member of the Nuffield College, Oxford, has been invited to speak.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the total cost to public funds from its inception to date of the Wilton Park-Wiston House experiment; if he will list the foreigners who have received Foreign Office invitations to attend the current and fiftieth Wilton Park Conference; and what were his reasons for inviting them to visit Great Britain at public expense.
§ Mr. HeathThe total cost to Her Majesty's Government of the Wilton Park centre since it began in 1946 has been £500,000.
246WThose who attend conferences at Wilton Park either apply themselves to come or are nominated by the countries participating in the centre. Their fares and conference fees are paid either by themselves or by the organisations or Governments sending them. Her Majesty's Government meet the standing costs of the centre and provide the staff.
The list of those attending the 50th Conference has not yet been completed, but as soon as it is complete I will send it to my hon. and gallant Friend.