§ Mr. Grahamasked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the British Government's potition on the proposed International Fund for Agricultural Development, the establishment of which was recommended by the World Food Conference in November 1974.
§ Mr. PrenticeThis fund has not yet been set up, but a meeting of all interested Governments held in Geneva in May agreed that a working group should consider and make recommendations on its establishment and operation. This working group, of which the United Kingdom is a member, has held two meetings. The next step will be a further meeting of all interested governments in Rome, beginning on 27th October, to consider the working group's report and certain unresolved issues.
My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart), informed my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) in reply to his Question on 23rd May that Her Majesty's Government were ready to participate in the fund if it seemed likely to add usefully to international efforts for agricultural development. Subject to the approval of Parliament, we are now ready to make a contribution of £15 million. This is on the understanding that agreement is eventually reached on satisfactory arrangements for the establishment of the fund and that other donors, particularly the oil producing countries, also make appropriate contributions towards the proposed target of one billion special drawing rights. It is also without prejudice to the question whether our contribution should be direct, or channelled 288W wholly or partly through the EEC as part of an EEC contribution.—[Vol. 892, c. 650.]