HL Deb 20 May 1986 vol 475 c288WA
Lord Granville

of Eye asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will invite the member countries of the British Commonwealth to take part in a Commonwealth Conference in London, Birmingham and Liverpool for the exhibition of their products, cultures, customs, developments and achievements in the world today.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

A Commonwealth Conference takes place biennially at Head of Government level: the next will be in Canada in 1987. The Commonwealth Institute in London—a body largely funded by a grant-in-aid from Her Majesty's Government—provides Commonwealth Governments with a permanent opportunity to display material illustrating all aspects of life in their respective countries. Under the circumstances I do not consider that the substantial additional costs of the conference proposed by the noble Lord could be justified.