HC Deb 03 July 1961 vol 643 cc985-7
18. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from organisations or individuals associated with agriculture and horticulture indicating their concern about the United Kingdom joining the Common Market; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

In the talks last year between the Agricultural Departments and the farmers' unions, the unions made it clear that they would not favour unconditional entry into the Common Market. I have since received letters from some organisations and private individuals. The unions are of course aware that, as I stated in the House on 12th June, it is the Government's policy that any decision to join or adhere to the Common Market must depend on satisfactory arrangements being made for our agriculture.

Mr. Shinwell

Were the majority of the representations against our going into the Common Market?

Mr. Soames

Certainly not. The vast majority of the letters which we have received in the Department were in the form of queries about the affect which any adherence to the Common Market might have on the production of this or that. Only a very small number of the letters which we have received came out firmly against our joining the Common Market.

Mr. Thorpe

Has the right hon. Gentleman conveyed to these organisations the information which he was kind enough to give me on 12th June in a written reply, namely, that the Government feel quite unable to produce a comparative study of the cost of production in the Six and in this country and that so far, therefore, they are totally without that information? Is he aware that the Economic Commission in Brussels has had that information for the last eighteen months? Will he study it if I send it to him?

Mr. Soames

In reply to the hon. Member I referred to the fact that studies of the cost of production—as opposed to profitability—are infinitely more detailed in this country than in the countries of the Six by virtue of the fact that we have an Annual Price Review and they do not.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Will my right hon. Friend tell the House what he means by the phrase "join the Common Market"? Does he mean become a full member of the European Community, or does he mean reaching some arrangement with the members of that community but not ourselves becoming a full member? The distinction is very important.

Mr. Soames

I meant that any decision to be associated in any way with the Common Market can be only on the basis of satisfactory arrangement being made for our agriculture.

Mr. S. Silverman

In view of the Minister's statement that the majority of the letters which he received were inquiries for information, will he tell us what information he sent to the inquirers in order to enable them to judge what kind of safeguards would be satisfactory before we conditionally joined the Common Market? Does he realise that all that information has been refused to us on the ground that nobody knows it?

Mr. Soames

All I can say is that each letter was answered in the best way possible according to our lights.

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