§ 76. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether Her Majesty's Government have completed their consideration of the new Part IV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; what consultations they have held thereon with other Commonwealth Governments; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedheadSubject to examination of any textual changes which may be proposed as a result of consideration by the Governments of other Contracting Parties, Her Majesty's Government intend to accept the new Part IV of the General Agreement. The Contracting Parties will sign the Final Act authenticating the texts of Part IV and related documents at a meeting in Geneva on 8th February. Thereafter the authenticated texts will be set forth in a White Paper to be presented to the House. The new chapter will come into effect when120W the Protocol of Amendment has been accepted by two-thirds of the Contracting Parties. Meanwhile it is intended that all Contracting Parties concerned should apply it de facto so far as they can.
Throughout the negotiations on the new Part IV there has been close consultation with the Governments of other Commonwealth countries.
These new provisions to help the trade and development of the less developed countries will forward the work already being done in the G.A.T.T. to assist these countries to overcome their trade problems. The United Kingdom Government, in co-operation with the Governments of other Commonwealth countries, will continue to play their full part in this work.