HC Deb 05 March 1957 vol 566 cc157-9
8. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on negotiations for a European Free Trade Area having regard to the recent decision by the powers preparing proposals for a European Common Market about the adherence thereto of colonial territories.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I would refer the right hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 26th February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke).

Mr. Wilson

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the change in connection with the French colonial territories makes a very significant change in the whole problem with which we are faced? Did not the Chancellor, when President of the Board of Trade, last October make a statement about this in response to a question, I think by a Press representative, which suggested that it would very much affect our view? In view of that, will not the right hon. Gentleman make clear to the Leader of the House the desire in all parts of the House to have an early debate, so that we may know to what we are becoming committed?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The matter of debate can be discussed through the usual channels it is not a matter for me. I think that the right hon. Gentleman is right so far as his question is concerned. A new range of additional and complex problems is raised, but I think that the right way to tackle the matter is, first, to have discussions in Europe to see precisely what is intended and then to follow that with discussions with the Colonies themselves.

Mr. Nabarro

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance today that the British Government will not commit themselves to any arrangement which would lead to the manufactures of the European metropolitan territories concerned with the free market entering British Colonial Territories free from tariff or protective duty?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That is a rather different question, but I will give my hon. Friend the undertaking that I will consult the Colonies so that they themselves will have an opportunity of expressing what they think is in their own interests.

Mr. Wilson

While we agree that there should be discussions about this matter in Europe, it is important that the House should have an opportunity of discussing the matter further. Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it would be quite intolerable for the colonies of Continental European Powers to be able to sell their goods in the Free Trade Area duty-free, when the Colonial Territories attached to the United Kingdom were not able to have the same advantage? It would be quite intolerable if they were prejudiced in that manner.

Mr. Thorneycroft

That is why, of course, I think that these discussions are very necessary.

34. Mr. Roy Jenkins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government that agricultural products should be completely excluded from the negotiations for the setting up of a European Free Trade Area.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

It remains our policy that agricultural products should be excluded from the Free Trade Area proposals.

Mr. Jenkins

May we then be told what meaning is to be attached to the reference to agriculture in the statement issued at the end of the O.E.E.C. meeting over which the Chancellor presided and which was held in Paris, I believe two weeks ago?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The meaning that may be attached to it is that all the countries in Europe wish to discuss agriculture, and probably very few of them intend to go for free trade.