HC Deb 02 November 1979 vol 972 cc679-80W
Mr. Rhodes James

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress was made at the recent meeting of the Development Council in Luxembourg.

Mr. Neil Marten

The Council gave general approval to a list of projects proposed by the Commission for the 1979 programme of aid to the non-associated countries, and to guidelines for the 1980 programme. The latter correspond closely with our own approach. Some progress was made in negotiating a Council regulation designed to relate the Community's food aid policy and its management more closely to the development needs of recipient countries. There was a useful discussion of the importance of profitable cane sugar production to the developing countries and the significance, in this context, of the Community's relationship to the International Sugar Agreement.