Mr. Lane (I.A.D.)
WH
$1
TEMONSTRY.
23
VISITS BY PARLIAMENTARIANS
нки
11/13/128/2
1. In the course of a discussion yesterday with Mr. Mellish, the Opposition Chief Whip, Mr. Royle explained the financial problem which had arisen in connection with an invitation by the Chinese Ambassador to the British/Chinese Parliamentary Group to organise a second Parliamentary Delegation to China this summer. China was not a member of the I.P.U., there were no obvious funds from which to meet the delegates' travel expenses and a repetition of the problems which arose with the first Parliamentary visit was obviously undesirable.
2. Mr. Mellish said he appreciated the problem, but he found it surprising that there was no fund from which visits by Members of Parliament to foreign countries could be financed if such visits were considered desirable for foreign policy reasons. He suggested that there must be countries in addition to China to which we might wish to send Parliament- ary delegations financed by other then I.P.U. funds. He would speak to Mr. Callaghan about the subject and suggest that the latter write to the Secretary of State.
3.
Mr. Royle would be grateful for your views on this problem. It would clearly be difficult to persuade the Treasury of the desirability of such a fund if China is the only country in connection with which the problem arises. On the other hand if a general case can be made out at all it would appear to be for a fund financed from the House of Commons Vote. But in that case, unless the F.C.0. retained some control over its use, the existence of such a fund might raise more problems than it solved.
12 April, 1973
D. B. C. Logan
c.c. to:
P.S.
Mr. Evans (F:E.D.) Mr.
Mr. Stuart (H.K.1.0b.)
RESTRICTED
13/4
expa
рак
17/4
Page 135Page 136