HC Deb 21 April 1959 vol 604 c38W
Mr. Braine

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about the composition of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council.

Mr. Alport

The Montreal Conference agreed to co-ordinate existing economic consultative machinery of the Commonwealth under the name of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council, consisting at the highest level of the Finance and Economic Ministers of the Commonwealth countries meeting together whenever circumstances demand.

All Commonwealth Governments have now agreed that the Council should be regarded as also incorporating meetings of senior Commonwealth economic officials held to prepare for meetings of Ministers, the Commonwealth Liaison Committee, the Commonwealth Economic Committee and meetings of Commonwealth statisticians to consider the balance of payments of the sterling area.

The inclusion of other Commonwealth bodies through which economic consultation takes place will be considered from time to time as seems desirable.