§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he anounced Great Britain's withdrawal from the European Free Trade Association before ensuring that promises to seek safeguards for the vital interests of Great Britain's European Free Trade Association partners in negotiations to join the European Economic Community were honoured.
§ Mr. RipponIn accordance with the Stockholm Convention, the United Kingdom gave notice of withdrawal from the European Free Trade Association to become effective on 31st December, 1972, and our European Free Trade Association 233W partners were so informed at the European Free Trade Association Ministerial meeting on 4th and 5th November, 1971.
All our European Free Trade Association partners who were not candidates for full membership are negotiating their own arangements with the Communities and it is the desire of all concerned that these agreements should enter into force at the same time as the Communities are enlarged.