HC Deb 16 February 1983 vol 37 c166W
Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he is planning to make to the Brandt Commission report "Common Crisis".

Mr. Rifkind

We welcome the publication of the Brandt commission's report "Common Crisis". The report is a timely and valuable contribution and we are giving it serious study. We share the commission's concern about the very serious problems facing the developing countries. We accept the report's principal message that we live in an interdependent world.

The IMF interim committee, which met on 10–11 February under the chairmanship of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has now agreed upon a substantial increase in the resources available to the IMF. This is a significant contribution to the capacity of the international financial institutions to cope with the demands placed upon them. Other areas covered by the report will be under active discussion at a number of international meetings in 1983, including the OECD ministerial meeting, the Williamsburg economic summit, and UNCTAD VI. We will approach these meetings in a positive spirit with the aim of agreeing practical action where appropriate.

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