§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the communication sent by the Delegate General of the United Towns Organisation under date of 25th September requesting Her Majesty's Government to join other members of the European Economic Community in promoting official town-twinning; on what date he replied; what was the nature of his reply; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KershawThe Delegate General's letter of 25th September was about Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards town-twinning and did not request Her Majesty's Government to join other members of the European Economic Community in promoting town-twinning. An answer was sent on 20th October from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reiterating our view that while we welcome new municipal links, initiatives in 119W town-twinning are best taken by local authorities themselves without official direction.