§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement about the council meeting of Development Ministers of the EEC held in Luxembourg on 13th October.
§ Mr. PrenticeI regret to say that little was achieved at this meeting. All countries but one agreed to provide 3.5 million units of account for commercial promotion help for non-associates, and the one country which could not agree has promised urgently to reconsider its position on this issue.
All but two countries were willing to accept an unspecified Community commitment—subject to complementary action by other countries—to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. As the Pledging Conference for the fund it to be held on 27th October it was agreed that the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the Community should try before that date to agree both the principle and the approximate size of a Community contribution. Her Majesty's Government are in agreement with both these proposals.
There was no agreement on the two main items for discussion, which were proposals for a programme of financial aid for non-associates and increased Community food aid. One delegation took the view that no decisions could be taken on these particular proposals until further progress had been made on the question of harmonisation and co-ordination of all forms of aid by the Community and its member countries.
711WI have made clear to our Community partners our disappointment at this result. Her Majesty's Government remain in no doubt of the need for the Community to have a balanced aid programme designed primarily to help those countries in the greatest need. They will continue to do all they can in discussions bilaterally with Community Ministers and in discussions on wider Community issues to reach agreement on ways and means of taking action to implement the decision in principle to provide aid to non-associates.