HC Deb 31 January 1972 vol 830 cc23-4W
68. Mr. Woodhouse

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those articles and annexes of the Treaty of Rome which have been or are to be amended in order to accommodate the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

Following the outcome of the negotiations for the enlargement of the Communities, the European Economic Community Treaty which was signed on 25th March, 1957, and subsequently modified, requires the adjustments listed in Part Two of the Act Concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties annexed to the Treaty of Accession, Cmnd. 4862-I.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making for the publication and distribution of secondary legislation of the European Economic Community which is operative after 10th November, 1971, and not part of the H.M.S.O. series of 42 volumes published on 13th January, 1972.

Mr. Rippon

For instruments adopted by the European Communities after 10th November, 1971, but before our accession Her Majesty's Government have agreed with the Communities an interim procedure by which we have the right of full consultation. Official English texts of instruments passed during this interim period will be published in due course.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the pre-accession series of English texts of the secondary legislation of the European Communities, published on 13th January, are not the authentic texts which will apply if accession takes place.

Mr. Rippon

Article 155 of the Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties (Cmnd. 4862-I) provides that English language texts of secondary legislation of the European Communities do not become authentic until accession.