EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY (Hansard, 9 July 1956)

§ 48. Mr. Chetwynd
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement of Government policy relating to the establishment of Parliamentary links with the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, as proposed by the Common Assembly.

§ Lord John Hope
Consultation between British Parliamentarians and those of the Common Assembly already takes place through the medium of joint meetings of the Common Assembly and the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. These arrangements have been found to be satisfactory, and it does not seem necessary, at the present moment, to change them.

§ Mr. Chetwynd
Is the Joint Under-Secretary of State not aware that, both on the Continent and here, there is need for closer collaboration, particularly with regard to the Coal and Steel Community and the High Authority, and could he not look at the matter again?

§ Lord John Hope
With respect to the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that there is that need. There may be some on the Continent and some here who think that there is, but I certainly do not think that the High Authority believes that there is any need, nor do Her Majesty's Government. Consultation is complete at the moment, and I do not think that there is anything that can be done at present to improve it.