HC Deb 21 November 1977 vol 939 cc575-6W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Prime Minister who is responsible for monitoring his Downing Street Summit in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister

I am.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Prime Minister what growth figures were agreed at the Downing Street Summit and by how much, if at all, the various member countries of that summit are falling behind their targets.

The Prime Minister

The growth targets agreed at the Downing Street Summit were not made public at that time. Since then USA, Japan and Germany have published targets for 1977— fiscal 1977 in Japan—of 5 per cent., 6.7 per cent. and 4½–5 per cent. respectively. The USA are confident that they will achieve their target. The German authorities have said that their growth is likely to be in the order of 3–4 per cent. The Japanese have said that owing to the recent strong rise in the value of the yen and its depressive effect on export volumes, they will find it hard to achieve the 6.7 per cent. target.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions there have been meetings at international level to monitor the Downing Street summit.

The Prime Minister

The Heads of Government and their representatives keep in touch on the subjects discussed at the Downing Street summit through a number of different fora. Representatives of Heads of Government met in Washington on 29th–30th September to discuss overall progress.

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