§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the work of the special committee of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on preferences; what is the British representation on that committee; and whether he will give an assurance that, in co-operation with other Commonwealth Governments he will seek to protect the interests of the Commonwealth preferential area.
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§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyThe UNCTAD Special Committee on Preferences, on which United Kingdom representation is provided by the Board of Trade, met for the first time towards the end of last year. Further meetings have been arranged to begin on 28th April and 30th June this year. It is hoped that the work of the prospective preference-giving countries in the O.E.C.D. will have progressed to the point at which substantive discussions with developing countries can be held at the meeting beginning on 30th June. Before any new preferential arrangements can be implemented, there will be full consultations with Commonwealth preference area countries.