HC Deb 14 February 1964 vol 689 cc115-6W
Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Recommendation 385, on the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 17th January, 1964; and whether Her Majesty's Government will now ratify the Convention.

Mr. Mathew

The International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations was ratified by the United Kingdom on 30th October, 1963, by the depositing of our instrument of ratification on that date with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with Article 24, paragraph 3 of the Convention.

Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Resolution 270 on Food Aid, which was adopted by the Con- sultative Assembly on 16th January. 1964; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken, or contemplates taking in regard to it, particularly in respect of paragraph 9 of the resolution.

Mr. Mathew

Her Majesty's Government agree broadly with the terms of this Resolution, and in particular with paragraphs 3 and 6 which deal with Food Aid. We attach great importance to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation World Food Programme and to the Freedom from Hunger Campaign of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The Food and Agriculture Organisation is engaged already on surveys of the potential agricultural resources of the developing countries. The orderly expansion of world trade in agricultural commodities, for which paragraph 9 of this Resolution calls, is one of the main aims which Her Majesty's Government already adopt in formulating their domestic and external agricultural policies.

Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Resolution 265 on the general policy of the Council of Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 15th January, 1964; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken, or contemplates taking, in regard to it.

Mr. Mathew

Her Majesty's Government are in general sympathy with the underlying purpose of this Recommendation. As regards paragraph 9, in which an appeal is made to the Governments directly concerned to re-open negotiations for the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community before 1966, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a supplementary question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 3rd February. Paragraph 10 is an internal question for the European Economic Community. The objectives set out in paragraphs 11–14 are in line with the general policy of Her Majesty's Government.