§ Sir Frederic Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now take the initiative to convene a European Conference of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in regard to establishing a common shipping policy in accord with a recent recommendation by the Assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Shore,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd April 1976; Vol. 908, col. 620], gave the following information—
I appreciate the contribution made to the current debate on international shipping issues by the Council of Europe Assembly's Report on European Shipping Policy, but I doubt whether a conference o. the kind envisaged by the hon. Member would be necessary in view of the extensive considerations given to these issues in other international organisations such as the OECD.