§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with progress made, since agreement was reached in Jamaica, with the International Monetary Fund's plans to sell part of its gold holding to help poor countries; whether the British Government's commitment to the plan still holds; and when he expects the first auction sale to be held.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe answer to the first two parts of the hon. Member's question is yes. On the third question the Interim Committee agreed to a programme of sales in the near future, without fixing a specific deadline. Some technical details still remain to be settled, after which I expect sales to begin.