§ 42. Mr. Blakerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Finance Ministers of the EEC.
§ Mr. HealeyYes, Sir. The purpose of the meeting held at Zeist on 22nd and 23rd April was to exchange views, in an informal way, on possible arrangements for gold, in the light of the agreed objective that the special drawing right should become the principal reserve asset of the reformed international monetary system. No decisions were taken but there was a general consensus that central banks should be free to undertake gold transactions between themselves at market related prices. It is intended to arrange for discussion of this approach and its modalities with other interested countries, notably the United States, in the coming weeks. In the light of these discussions more definite proposals could be submitted to the Committee of 20.