HC Deb 05 December 1957 vol 579 cc598-9
38. Mr. Brockway

asked 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 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. Brockway

May 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. Powell

This 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.

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