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Oral Answers
8 MARCH 1971
* Mr. Mason: But the Minister knows, as his right hon. Friend has told me in la written reply, that there have been three near misses since Mediator was established and in the area which it 'covers. What has been responsible? Has Mediator, because of its introduction in this area, been responsible for these three near misses? Secondly, what has the Minister said to those who have expressed fears-namely, B.A.L.P.A., the National Guild of Air Traffic Controllers and the 'Institution of Professional Civil Servants
to allay their fears?
Mr. Grant: I do not accept at this stage that the Mediator system was re- sponsible for the near misses which have taken place. If the hon. Gentleman would like to put down a Question on the subject, my right hon. Friend the Mini- ster for Trade will no doubt give him an answer. But I repeat that the Mediator system which has been introduced is designed to create a safer system and is 'an improvement on the situation which
prevailed before.
Mr. Mason: What has the Minister said to those three bodies primarily in- volved and affected to allay their fears .about the future of this system?
**
Mr. Grant: I have had no consulta- tion myself with them at all-[HON. MEMBERS: Oh."-that is, me per- sonally. I have had no consultations. But what I am saying is that if the right hon. Gentleman cares to put down a Question, I will see that it is answered.
Developing Countries (Generalised Preferences)
9. Mr. Blaker asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the progress of discussions in the United Nations Con- ference on Trade and Development on the grant of generalised preferences by advanced countries to developing
countries.
Mr. John Davies: I have nothing to add to the reply to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Roper) and the right hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) on 8th February. [Vol. 811, c. 29-30.]
:
Mr. Blaker May I draw to my right hon. Friend's attention the position of Hong Kong in these negotiations? The
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Oral Answers
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House has already been informed 'that the E.E.C. is prepared to accept Hong Kong as a beneficiary country. What is the position of the United States and Japan? Can my right hon. Friend report any progress on that front?
Mr. Davies: I understand that Japan also expects to be able to include Hong Kong in some certain special arrange-
ments which it wishes to make, but none- theless to include it in its own arrange- ments. I have no further news about the United States, but I am very hopeful that it, too, will find it possible to include the colony in its arrangements.
Sir G. de Freitas: Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that, as long ago as November, I was told in the House that the Government would introduce legis- lation on generalised preference along the lines of the E.E.C.? Can he tell me when that is likely to be?
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Mr. Davies: As the right hon. Gentle- man knows, it is the Government's inten- tion, along with other Governments con- cerned, to bring in legislation this year. That remains the Government's inten- tion, in order to fulfil their general undertakings to make these arrangements effective before the year's end. But I cannot be more specific than that.
Regional Policy '
10. Mr. Robert Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Indus- try if he will present a White Paper out- lining the policies he intends to pursue in development areas and the total ex- penditure likely to be incurred in the next financial year.
Mr. John Davies: No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Varley) on 22nd February. Estimates of ex- penditure in 1971-72 on the regional assistance for which my Department is responsible will be presented to Parlia- ment in due course.-[Vol. 812, c. 41-2.]
Mr. Hughes: Will the right hon. Gentleman not understand that such equivocal answers are causing grave lack of confidence in the development areas, that the lack of precise information is retarding development in areas like mine,
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