§ 38. Mr. Brockwayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions have been reached by the Working Party which is considering the advisability of establishing a Customs Union, Common Market 599 and Free Trade Area in the Bagdad Pact region.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. J. Enoch Powell)The Working Party recommended that for the present the study of a Customs Union or Common Market should not be proceeded with, but that the possibility of a Free Trade Area should be examined.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I ask the hon. Member whether his Department, in association with other Departments of the Government, will take great care before proceeding with this scheme and will take into consideration the danger of making a further division of the nations in the Middle East, which may be very serious for the cause of peace?
§ Mr. PowellThis Report has to be considered by the Economic Committee of the Bagdad Pact early next year. Pending that, I think it would be wise to make no comment.