HC Deb 21 December 1965 vol 722 c396W
59. Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the Commonwealth Foundation was set up; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Bottomley

The House will recall that Commonwealth Prime Ministers at their meeting in July decided to establish the Commonwealth Foundation. I am happy to say that Commonwealth Governments have now agreed that Sir Macfarlane Burnet. 0.M., one of the most distinguished of living Australians, shall be the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Commonwealth Foundation.

They have also agreed that Mr. G. W. St.J. Chadwick should be the first Director of the Foundation. Mr. Chadwick is an Assistant Under-Secretary of State at the Commonwealth Relations Office and will be seconded to the Foundation.

The names of the members of the Board of Trustees will be published when these are known. In the meantime, the Director is in touch with the Chairman over the steps to be taken before the Foundation can commence operations.