§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government subscribe to Council of Europe recommendation 861 of 1979, which proposes that the Council of Europe's programme of inter-governmental activities be adapted so as to make a better response to the requirement of more balanced European development
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe recommendation was discussed at the 66th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe held in Lisbon on 10th April. The final communiqué contained the following relevant passage
With regard to balanced development in Europe the Ministers decided that the Council 471W should henceforth play a more active role as an instrument of European democratic solidarity in order to reduce the economic and social imbalances between member states.To this end the Ministers were in favour of making greater use of the medium-erm plan of inter-governmental activities of the Council of Europe and reinforcing the Resettlement Fund, while not excluding examination of other means".