§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's attitude to the recommendations contained in Volume I of the report of the Select Committee on Overseas Development which dealt with the United Kingdom's entry into Europe and economic relations with developing countries.
§ Mrs. HartI think the House will wish me to thank the Committee for providing us with this thoughtful analysis of the complex issues which form the subject of its report. It is particularly valuable at the present time and I have had its recommendations very much in mind in my own discussions within the EEC in pursuance of our renegotiation objectives. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in Luxembourg on 1st April and 4th June, and as I have emphasised at the EEC Development Council Meetings on 30th April, 13th June and 16th July, one of our main purposes is to secure improvements in the treatment of the Commonwealth and developing countries in both the aid and trade fields. I hope and trust that in my550W statements in Luxembourg and Brussels I have in fact acted very closely in accordance with the views of the Select Committee.