International Commodity Agreements

HC Deb 03 May 1974 vol 872 cc235-6W

10. Dr. Hampson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress he has made in connection with the proposal outlined in the Queen's Speech for promoting international commodity agreements.

Mr. Peart

No such proposal was outlined in the Queen's speech, but in the debate on the Address I said that I wanted to see commodity arrangements used to stabilise agricultural trade and that the Government would support efforts in the GATT multilateral negotiations to help stabilise, expand and liberalise world agricultural trade. It will require much hard work in the international bodies concerned to formulate arrangements which would be acceptable internationally. This work is still at an early stage.