HC Deb 21 April 1959 vol 604 cc198-9
14. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the publicly expressed statement by the Federal German Minister of Economics that the British proposals for a Free Trade area are right, he will indicate what steps Her Majesty's Government are now proposing to take to reopen negotiations with the Common Market nations.

The Paymaster-General (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

I cannot usefully add to the answers which I gave the right hon. Member on 26th March.

Mr. Bellenger

Has the attention of the Paymaster-General been called to the remarks, reported in The Times, of Professor Erhard that we should have the courage to go into the problem of the Free Trade Area whether today or tomorrow? Does not that seem to be an invitation from a leading member of the German Federal Government and should not Her Majesty's Government take this offer up?

Mr. Maudling

Professor Erhard always had a clear point of view on these matters, and I think that it is important he should discuss them with his colleagues in The Six in the first instance.