asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement concerning recent developments in Laos, and in the Geneva Conference on Laos.

The Geneva Conference on Laos has completed all the work that it can do without the participation of a single Laotian delegation. The conference is due to meet again at the beginning of February, when it is hoped that a single Laotian delegation, appointed by a Government of National Union, will be present at the meeting and that the conference will then be able to conclude its work.