HL Deb 22 March 1979 vol 399 cc1401-2WA
Lord BROCKWAY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the conclusions of the World Shipping Conference at Bath on UNCTAD's proposals to give developing nations a greater share of world shipping trade.

Lord JACQUES

The Conference to which the noble Lord refers was organised by the International Chamber of Commerce under the general title of "Trade and Shipping—Policy Issues for World Business ". The Conference was attended by businessmen from a number of developed and developing countries and gave rise to a useful exchange of views on certain aspects of the shipping issues likely to come before UNCTAD V in Manila.

There were no Conference conclusions as such but I understand that, in his concluding remarks, the Conference chairman stated that the ICC should continue to oppose any governmental régime for preferences whether in trade or shipping while being ready to see that the developing countries achieved increasing participation in shipping on the basis of sound commercial principles.