§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, recognising that 12 March is Commonwealth Day, he will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenThe British Government attach great importance to membership of the Commonwealth and will continue 83W to play their full part in supporting and encouraging its development. The Commonwealth now brings together 40 developed and developing countries and 1,000 million people—one-quarter of the world's population. It is a unique organisation and, during the last year, has been able to bring about a dialogue between Commonwealth Ministers, on the common fund in London, on finance in Ottawa, on industry in Bangalore and, for the first time, a regional meeting of the South-East Asian members was held in Australia.
On a practical level in the last year the Commonwealth countries have co-operated actively in the fields of development, education, health, youth, science and technology, law and, at a nongovernmental level, in a large number of other fields.
Amongst activities which mark Commonwealth Day in Britain, Her Majesty The Queen and Ministers, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High Commissioners have today attended a special religious observance in Westminster Abbey, and the flags of the 40 Commonwealth nations are flying in Parliament Square.
Commonwealth Day has also been marked in schools throughout the country. A Commonwealth youth programme has been in operation since 1973. It provides courses for those who work with the young, and organises seminars and meetings where the young people of the Commonwealth can get to know one another. Its activities include job creation and voluntary work schemes.