HC Deb 21 July 1978 vol 954 c453W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Her Majesty's Government now accept that the Common Fund should be financed by direct contributions from Governments.

Mr. Meacher

As my right hon. Friend said on 24th April in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley)—[Vol. 948, c. 416]—producers and consumers in international commodity agreements must in our view be the prime source of finance contributed by Governments to the fund. It remains to be established, in further international work, whether any element of direct financing could be compatible with this principle.

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