HC Deb 22 July 1958 vol 592 cc200-1
16. Mr. Jay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the negotiations for a European Free Trade Area.

8. Mr. Osborne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Paymaster-General's recent visit to Paris and his discussions on the Free Trade Area proposals; what objections were raised by the French Government; what are Her Majesty's Government's reactions to those objections; and what further developments can be expected from the proposals.

Mr. Amory

There is nothing I can usefully add to the answer my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 8th July, except that a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee has been arranged for 24th and 25th July under my right hon. Friend's chairmanship.

Mr. Jay

As British industry has been kept in uncertainty about this for a long time, can we at least have a statement before the Recess, or can the Chancellor tell us what developments he expects in the autumn?

Mr. Amory

I think we must wait and see how the meeting this week and the O.E.E.C. meeting next week work out.