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Oil Costs (Ditchley Park Discussions)

Volume 885: debated on Thursday 6 February 1975

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asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a summary of discussions held at Ditchley Park over the weekend 1st-2nd February concerning the impact of the oil crisis on the Western financial system and the British balance of payments.

No, I do not think this would be appropriate. These discussions took the form of a review of current financial and economic questions with particular reference to problems arising out of the financial surpluses of the oil-producing countries. They provided an opportunity for a wide group of politicians, academics, business men and bankers to exchange views on the approach to these questions. Discussions under the auspices of the Ditchley Foundation take place on the understanding that they will be entirely informal. These were useful and constructive but did not seek to reach decisions.