HC Deb 15 February 1967 vol 741 cc118-9W
92. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many mortgage arrangements were made to establish new industries in the designated areas in the years 1962 to 1966; and what were the relative loans and grants for these years, respectively.

Mr. Jay

Details are as follows:

on Tariffs and Trade organisation for 1966–67; how many countries contribute towards its cost; how many staff it employs and in what other places besides Geneva they are stationed; and if he will give an account of the work and achievements of the organisation in the past year.

Mr. Darling

The total budget approved by the Contracting Parties for the administration of the General Agreement on Tariffs and trade in the calendar year was ․2,326,350, which was assessed for subscription on 76 countries. The staff complement is 211. All the staff are stationed in Geneva; but provision is made for visits on G.A.T.T. business to various countries by the Director-General and other senior staff.

In addition to the normal work of administering the General Agreement, the Contracting Parties have concentrated their attention during the past year on two subjects: the Kennedy Round of trade negotiations and the trade problems of the developing countries. Substantial progress has been made towards the completion of the Kennedy Round negotiations which are designed to further the objectives of the General Agreement by reducing tariffs and other barriers to trade. There has also been considerable discussion of specific ways of helping with the trade problems of developing countries following the entry into force in June, 1966, of Part IV of the G.A.T.T. which contains special provisions designed to promote the interests of the less-developed contracting parties. The important work of the G.A.T.T.'s International Trade Centre, which operates as a market information service and provides training for officials from developing countries, has been continued and extended, and provides practical help for these countries in promoting their export trade.