§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the Government are prepared to support the RTZ proposals designed to stabilise the price of copper; and whether he has received any representations from CIPEC (Council of Copper Exporting Countries) on the need for inter-Governmental co-operation in commodity price stabilisation.
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
I understand that RTZ has proposed that an international financial consortium be orgainsed to take over Japan's copper surplus and thus remove it from sale at current prices. For their part, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already made clear, the British Government are ready to pursue discussions on means of stabilising commodity prices and supplies, including copper, in the joint interests of producers and consumers. CIPEC has made no formal representations to the Government on means to achieve commodity price stabilisation.