HC Deb 16 May 1968 vol 764 c277W
53. Dame Irene Ward

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the decision to establish an aluminium smelter on the North-East Coast, the differences between Norway and Her Majesty's Government on the interpretation of the European Free Trade Association constitution have now been resolved.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

We are still in negotiation with the interested aluminium companies. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 15th May, the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Meeting held in London last week invited the Governments of the United Kingdom and Norway to hold further bilateral talks and my right hon. Friend has, therefore, arranged to visit Oslo next week for a discussion with the Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping.