§ 45. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the effect which the proposed entry of Britain into the European Free Trade Area will have upon the British fishing and shipbuilding industries; and if he will give an assurance that no binding agreement in this matter will be entered into until the representatives of all the elements in those industries shall have been consulted and given their assent.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)We have made it clear from the outset that our proposals for a Free Trade Area do not extend to food. British fishing would not, therefore, be affected. The shipbuilding industry is not, for the most part, protected by a duty. Nevertheless, the Departments concerned are in close touch with representatives of this industry.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Prime Minister realise that these industries will be very glad to have the declaration that they will not be in any way prejudiced by this novel plan?
§ Mr. OsborneDoes my right hon. Friend's statement this afternoon that food will not be affected by these proposals contradict the statement made at the meeting he addressed only two nights ago, when a European statesman said that agriculture would have to be a matter of compromise?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. In the proposals which were put forward by Her Majesty's Government for trying to create a European Free Trade Area, it was made clear from the beginning that it was not to include a whole range of products, broadly the products of the soil.