§ Mr. Derek Pageasked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the estimated additional cost involved in trading arrangements between the United Kingdom and developing territories designed to maintain specified commodities above world prices ; and what is the estimated proportion of the gross national product represented by aid to developing countries on the basis of including such costs in the calculations.
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§ Mrs. HartThere are no trading arrangements between the United Kingdom and developing countries which deliberately set out to keep the prices of particular commodities above free market levels. The general aim of the various commodity arrangements to which the United Kingdom is a party is to stabilise prices at levels which are remunerative to producers and fair to consumers. This may at times lead to higher prices than would have prevailed in the absence of these arrangements but it is impossible to say with any accuracy what the additional element amounts to.