§ Mr. Blakerasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about the discussions held in Amsterdam from the 16th to 20th February under the auspices of the United Nations by the Panel on Foreign Investment in Developing Countries.
§ Mr. PrenticeFor the reasons explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Patrick Jenkin) on 14th February, Her Majesty's Government were not represented on the Panel. I have however seen the Agreed Statement issued at the end of the Panel's discussion. This reports that the meeting had been most useful. The Panel recognised the importance of private foreign investment in the economic growth of developing countries and laid particular stress on the desirability of joint ventures, bringing236W together foreign private capital, host governments and local enterpreneurs.—[Vol. 777, c. 390.]