§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the setting up by the United States Government of a committee to study British proposals for import restrictions under President Ford's special trade adviser, Mr. Frederick Dent, he will personally communicate with the President of the United States with a view to harmonising British and American policies on (1) Great Britain's application for loans from the IMF and its special oil fund, (2) proposals for temporary restrictions on imports, and (3) further NATO defence cuts.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I had a full discussion with President Ford on matters of mutual interest at the Economic Summit Meeting at Rambouillet last month. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his reply on 10th November when announcing our wish to apply for International Monetary Fund drawings, these drawings are a matter for discussion with the Fund and are not expected to be made until early next year. No decisions have so far been taken on the subject of temporary restrictions on imports. The question of defence expenditure is still under review in the course of the annual public expenditure survey exercise.