HC Deb 20 February 1975 vol 886 c488W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out in the Official Report the reasons why the United Kingdom voted against the United Nations Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States carried on 12th December by the General Assembly by 120 votes to six.

Mr. Ennals

The United Kingdom voted against the resolution incorporating the text of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States because, while there was much in the charter which we could endorse, a substantial proportion of its provisions were unacceptable to Her Majesty's Government.

The reasons for our votes on the individual sections of the charter were set out in detail in the explanation of vote made by our representative in the Second Committee of the General Assembly on 9th December, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.