§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the implications for future relationships between Great Britain, an enlarged European Economic Community, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa with special reference to the common currency and common tariff arrangements between Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa; and whether he will make a statement on relevant negotiations between Great Britain and South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho with special reference to commitments which have been made by Great Britain.
§ Mr. RipponSwaziland, Botswana and Lesotho have been offered the three possible ways of ordering their relations with the enlarged Community set out in Protocol No. 22 annexed to the Treaty of Accession.
The choice of option is entirely for the Governments of the countries concerned. 262W Negotiations for the establishment of the arrangements provided for in Protocol No. 22 will begin as from 1st August, 1973. The terms of this Protocol recognise the need to find appropriate solutions to the specific problems arising from the special circumstances of these three countries, which are in Customs Union with South Africa, if they choose one of the first two options.