HC Deb 11 July 1962 vol 662 cc1342-4
38 and 40. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will make a statement on the position now reached in the negotiations on Great Britain's entry into the Common Market with regard to safeguards for Commonwealth exports of produce and manufactured goods; and what representations he has received from the Commonwealth Governments about these particular negotiations;

(2) what safeguards he is now demanding for permanent comparable outlets for temperate zone foodstuffs from the Commonwealth in the enlarged European Community in the event of Britain joining.

Mr. Heath

I have nothing to add to the statements which I made to the House on 31st May and 2nd July.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is the Minister aware that the Commonwealth countries are very concerned indeed that Commonwealth preference on manufactured goods will end in 1970? Is it the Minister's intention in the negotiations on temperate zone products to agree to a similar arrangement for such commodities, or is he demanding as an alternative to this that, without any shadow of doubt, the Commonwealth countries will have comparable outlets in the enlarged community to those which they now have with the United Kingdom?

Mr. Heath

I have dealt with this matter in great detail on many occasions in the House. I gave a full explanation about the proposed arrangements for manufactured products in a statement on 31st May, and it was then later discussed in debate. I also explained fully the basis on which we are negotiating for temperate foodstuffs in a statement on 2nd July. The request for comparable outlets and the arrangements which I explained to the House about the transitional period and the long-term after that are different from the arrangements for the manufactured goods.

Sir C. Osborne

Will my right hon, Friend assure the House that if the legitimate objections of the Commonwealth to our joining the Common Market are upheld, he will get from the Commonwealth the same categorical promises that he demands from the other side, namely, that they will lower their tariffs against manufactured goods and take our goods into their market?

Mr. Heath

That is an entirely separate question, although I appreciate its relevance.

Mr. Healey

In view of the fact that the course of the negotiations suggest that outlets available to the Commonwealth on much of their products will depend not so much on the machinery agreed but on the prices fixed for these products in the European market, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government will take no final decision on British membership of the Common Market before the prices of these products have been agreed?

Mr. Heath

The price of the products is obviously a fluctuating matter which will change from year to year. One cannot ask for an undertaking in perpetuity about prices of agricultural products in the Common Market.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Wall.

Mr. Stonehouse

Can we pursue this question, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker

We must go on to the next Question.

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