HC Deb 03 December 1980 vol 995 cc111-2W
39. Dame Judith Hart

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the global negotiations on North-South issues, and on the position taken by the United Kingdom, during the special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Mr. Hurd

It has still not proved possible to reach agreement on the agenda and procedures for the global negotiations. Informal discussions on both subjects are continuing in New York. We continue to hope that it will prove possible to launch the global negotiations on a generally acceptable basis.

In company with the United States and the Federal German Republic, the United Kingdom was unable to accept a text on procedures which emerged from informal consultations during the eleventh special session of the General Assembly. In the view of these three countries, the text did not sufficiently protect the integrity of the specialised agencies in the United Nations system.