HC Deb 20 March 1972 vol 833 cc224-5W
Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the policy which will be adopted by Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development III on the extension of commodity agreements to assist less developed countries.

Mr. Noble

At U.N.C.T.A.D. III we shall make clear our view that commodity agreements can be a useful means of helping developing countries. We shall work to strengthen existing agreements and to promote further agreements where they are practicable.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the policy which Her Majesty's Government will adopt at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development III towards preferential shipping rates for developing countries.

Mr. Noble

At the Third United Nations Conference on Trade and Development our policy will be consistent with the support of Her Majesty's Government for General Assembly Resolution 2626 (XXV) adopting the International Development Strategy for the Decade (Cmnd. 4568) paragraph 53(e) of which refers to freight rates.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the policy which Her Majesty's Government will adopt at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development III towards the proposal of the Group of 77 that the trend to international trading blocks should be reversed.

Mr. Noble

The concern of the developing countries, as evidenced by the Lima Declaration, is that regional economic groupings of developed countries might adversely affect their interests. At U.N.C.T.A.D. III we and our prospective partners will insist that this will not be the effect of E.E.C. enlargement.