HC Deb 09 November 1977 vol 938 cc116-7W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if, at the negotiations concerning a Common Fund, which are due to be held in Geneva, he will urge that the fund should be created as soon as possible, and not after all commodity agreements are negotiated:

(2) if, at the negotiations concerning a Common Fund, which are due to be held in Geneva he will urge that the fund should cover all or most of the 19 commodities proposed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ;

(3) if, at the negotiations concerning a Common Fund, which are due to be held in Geneva, he will urge that the fund should include finance for diversification and other measures designed to help poorer countries no longer to depend on one or two of the commodities ; and if he will strongly express the view that the producing and consuming countries should have an equal say in the running of the fund, and not allow it to be controlled by the World Bank.

Mr. Meacher:

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

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